House Ways And Means Committee Press Release

A press release from the House Ways and Means Committee (emphasis in original):

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing to investigate the large backlog of disability claims currently awaiting a decision by the Social Security Administration (SSA). In recent years, SSA’s workload has grown significantly due to the aging of the population and new responsibilities stemming from Medicare and homeland security legislation, yet the administrative funding SSA has received has been well below the level needed to keep up with this growing workload.

“Today, more than 1.3 million disabled Americans are waiting for Congress to do the obvious: find a solution,” said Income Security and Family Support Chairman Jim McDermott (D-WA). “We’re taking steps to fix this, because these disabled Americans deserve nothing less. The backlog in processing disability claims is a burden and barrier for disabled individuals who are waiting for critical cash assistance and health care coverage.”

The hearing focused on SSA’s backlog, its impact on applicants with severe disabilities who are awaiting a decision on their claim, and SSA’s plan to reduce the backlog.

"Due to this backlog, applicants who are suffering from severe disabling conditions often must wait for years with little or no income, and in many cases without health insurance," said Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Michael R. McNulty (D-NY). "No one can hear their stories without being convinced that we must fix this problem, and fix it soon."

Due to the combination of rising claims as the baby boom generation ages and prolonged underfunding, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability claims backlogs have reached unprecedented levels.

"Perhaps no group has faced a greater challenge as a result of these backlogs than those who are applying for Supplemental Security Income," continued Chairman McDermott. "The SSI program is often referred to as the safety net of last resort for the disabled and elderly. These folks are being forced to wait for years when many don’t have sufficient resources to buy food for the next few weeks. Making matters worse, these people often don’t have access to health care coverage, either."

More than 1.3 million applicants for disability benefits are currently awaiting a decision on their claim, and total waiting times often extend into years. In addition, as SSA tries to address the backlog crisis, the agency is forced to divert its limited resources away from its day-to-day operations in field offices and payment processing centers in order to try to manage the disability backlog. The result is an increase in long lines, delays, busy signals, and unanswered telephones, and growing concern about closures of local field offices.

"The root of the problem is simple," said Chairman McNulty. "For too long, SSA has been severely underfunded. The consequences of prolonged underfunding also extend beyond the disability backlogs. Service to the public in SSA’s local offices across the country has also declined due to staffing shortages. Our constituents increasingly face long lines, busy signals, and other delays, and field office closures are a growing concern. We cannot allow these conditions to continue. The American people deserve better."

Notice that unlike Commissioner Astrue, these committee members do not blame Administrative Law Judges for much of the problem.