Sep 15, 2008

Hearing Processing Time Report




The latest issue of the Social Security Forum, published by the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR) is out and it contains a July 31, 2008 report on Social Security's hearing backlogs. The pages are reproduced to the left. Click on each one to see it full size.

Compare the state of the national backlog over time:
  • January 25, 2007 -- 508 days
  • May 25, 2007 -- 523 days
  • July 28, 2007 -- 528 days
  • August 31, 2007 -- 523 days
  • November 30, 2007 -- 500 days
  • February 29, 2008 -- 511 days
  • May 30, 2008 -- 523 days
  • June 27, 2008 -- 529 days
  • July 31, 2008 -- 530
So why does Chief Administrative Law Judge Cristaudo tell a newspaper that things are getting better? Obviously, they are getting worse. It seems to me that the Chief Administrative Law Judge should either be frank with the media or just not talk with the media. This misleading statement demeans him and his office.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

A couple years ago Atlanta had the two slowest offices. but Michigan (where I practice) had five of the top (bottom) ten. That has changed a little. Using the scoring system of crosscountry racing (one point for the first position, two for the second, three for the third, etc)we can measure the relative backlog by state giving heavy weight to the slowest offices but also recognizing the states with multiple slow offices. Under this system the low score wins.

Michigan, with places 10, 11 and 13for its three slowest offices, scores 34 points. Indiana, which has the slowest office of all, but then two others at only number 14 and 16 beats Michigan with a total score of 31.

Illinois with numbers six, seven and nine beats them both with a total score of 22. But Ohio with spots four, five and eight takes the prize with only 17 points.

Congratulations Ohio! You are number one. Something about the Great Lakes seems to make ODARs run slower.

Anonymous said...

It appears the backlog has gotten alot worse at my local odar according to these figures.

Hope congress meeting goes favorably.

Anonymous said...

Region 5 has been one of the poorest performing regions in the US for years, yet the magistrate wannabe is still in charge after all these years. Only in an agency as worthless as SSA could an incompetent beuracrat (sorry, you are not really a judge hehehe) be retained.