Millions of Americans are waiting longer for unemployment checks, disability payments and food stamps as states furlough workers who process the benefits. ...
The number of people waiting for their first disability checks increased 38% in 2009 to 768,666, according to the Social Security inspector general. Nationally, the average length of time to process a claim went from 81 days in 2008 to 83 days in 2009. ...
Furloughing workers who help the needy is "fundamentally irrational," says Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue. Disability, unemployment and food stamps are funded by the federal government. "People should be getting their benefits."
Dec 14, 2009
McPaper Notices State Furlough Problems
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I wonder how truly upset the agency is about this development. One of the side effects of these layoffs and slowdown at DDS has been that the "tidal wave" of hearing requests the economic downturn was supposed to unleash has not happened yet. (many attorneys in our area complain that recon is taking 9-12 months and our state didnt even do furloughs) Indeed, hearing requests in many offices are actually down which is greatly helping in making the processing time numbers look so much better. The claimants will still have to wait just as long if they are ultimately successful, but ODAR's processing stats will look great to Congress.
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