It is clear enough to see that too many are waiting too long for a hearing and decision. And these numbers don't include the waiting times before the request for hearing! You have to wonder if Congress is trying to delay the process long enough to run out the clock on as many people as possible!
A 6+ percent drop in the backlog in FY17 isn't nothing. If receipts continue to drop or remain steady, the backlog will drop below a million in FY18 and continue its downward trajectory. I think in the short-term this will happen due to the economy/low unemployment, and it shouldn't spike like it did in 2009-2012 because the 55+ population is beginning its decline.
While I am pro decreasing wait times, I don't think any drop in wait time would result in anything other than an increase in denials for claimants. If every hearing occurred 90 days after the recon denial, the likelihood of any material evidence not considered by DDS drops, whether diagnostics, treatment, or otherwise. The amount of later onset, change in age decisions would drop significantly. I would think the number of repped cases would drop because the potential backpay substantially dwindles.
From an insider's perspective, it would be great because you'd essentially be reducing file sizes by up to 90% in some cases and at least 50% in most cases.
1:12 PM. Don't hurt yourself while patting yourself on the back! The number of people waiting for a hearing hasn't gone down because of production, but only because of fewer requests for hearings. While wait times and approval rates may have had some effect, this is mostly due to the fact that the baby boomers have worked their way past the 50 and 55 thresholds. The wait times and number waiting on the back end increased through most of the fiscal year.
SSA's goal in CARES is to get processing times to 270 days. I agree that scheduling hearings 90 days after the recon (or in prototype states, initial) denial wouldn't give claimants time to find reps or have the reps develop the files...especially not with the 75 days notice SSA has to give and the 5-day rule for evidence (and the 10-day rule for subpoenas). But there's a long way for SSA to go before it gets close to scheduling hearings too quickly.
5 comments:
Either this chart if very blurry or I'm legally blind.
It is clear enough to see that too many are waiting too long for a hearing and decision. And these numbers don't include the waiting times before the request for hearing! You have to wonder if Congress is trying to delay the process long enough to run out the clock on as many people as possible!
A 6+ percent drop in the backlog in FY17 isn't nothing. If receipts continue to drop or remain steady, the backlog will drop below a million in FY18 and continue its downward trajectory. I think in the short-term this will happen due to the economy/low unemployment, and it shouldn't spike like it did in 2009-2012 because the 55+ population is beginning its decline.
While I am pro decreasing wait times, I don't think any drop in wait time would result in anything other than an increase in denials for claimants. If every hearing occurred 90 days after the recon denial, the likelihood of any material evidence not considered by DDS drops, whether diagnostics, treatment, or otherwise. The amount of later onset, change in age decisions would drop significantly. I would think the number of repped cases would drop because the potential backpay substantially dwindles.
From an insider's perspective, it would be great because you'd essentially be reducing file sizes by up to 90% in some cases and at least 50% in most cases.
1:12 PM. Don't hurt yourself while patting yourself on the back! The number of people waiting for a hearing hasn't gone down because of production, but only because of fewer requests for hearings. While wait times and approval rates may have had some effect, this is mostly due to the fact that the baby boomers have worked their way past the 50 and 55 thresholds. The wait times and number waiting on the back end increased through most of the fiscal year.
SSA's goal in CARES is to get processing times to 270 days. I agree that scheduling hearings 90 days after the recon (or in prototype states, initial) denial wouldn't give claimants time to find reps or have the reps develop the files...especially not with the 75 days notice SSA has to give and the 5-day rule for evidence (and the 10-day rule for subpoenas). But there's a long way for SSA to go before it gets close to scheduling hearings too quickly.
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