Like Getting Beaten In Football By 40 Points And Calling It Success

From the North Platte, Nebraska Telegraph:

Can't work because you're sick or injured? What if your claim for disability benefits is denied?

In Nebraska and western Iowa, you have two choices: Accept the decision or appeal for a hearing at the local Social Security office - and wait about 18 months.

Tracking with improvements nationwide, the average wait at the hearings office in Omaha has declined by nearly four months from its all-time high in 2008. But that wait remains three months longer than the national average - and nine longer than in the nation's fastest office, in Middlesboro, Ky. ...

John Garlinger, a spokesman for the agency's regional office that covers Nebraska and Iowa, said the situation in Omaha remains unacceptable.

"Is it where we want to be? No, of course not," he said. "But it's moving in the right direction." ...

The Omaha office now has about 3,000 pending cases, people waiting for a hearing.

"It's a huge toll on their families and them," said Omaha attorney Tim Cuddigan, who represents Magill and hundreds of others seeking disability benefits. ...

Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., called the situation an "embarrassment" to Social Security officials. Terry has written letters decrying the delays in the past. Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., has pushed for more funding.

Terry said he'd like to turn up the heat on those in charge and scoffed at any suggestion of success with wait times hovering at or around 18 months.

"If that's success - that's like Nebraska touting success when Missouri beat them by 40 points - geez, we still scored 20?" Terry said. "Come on."