The Social Security Administration (SSA) is grappling with a growing backlog of disability appeals, leaving nearly 300,000 Americans awaiting decisions on their cases. As of January, the average wait time for these hearings has reached 291 days or over 9.5 months. This prolonged process can lead to financial strain and delayed access to crucial benefits for those in need.
Despite efforts to reduce the backlog, which saw pending hearings drop to a 30-year low of 261,574 in September 2024, the number of cases has begun to climb once again. By January, the figure had risen to 270,949, significantly increasing nearly 10,000 cases in just four months. This reversal comes after steady progress in reducing delays throughout 2023 and most of 2024.
The SSA’s disability benefits programs, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), provide financial assistance to individuals unable to work due to severe medical conditions. Applicants denied benefits at the initial and reconsideration stages have the right to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), a critical step in the appeals process.
Growing backlog of disability appeals
Mary Ellen O’Connor, founder of O’Connor Law PLLC, works extensively with clients caught in the Social Security disability appeals process. She said that the process leaves over 250,000 Americans in limbo, often for years, with no income or certainty about their future. “The initial application takes an average of seven months, and if denied, reconsideration adds another seven months—usually ending in another rejection,” O’Connor explained.
“From there, claimants must wait at least a year for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, and those who eventually get approved face an additional five-month waiting period before benefits begin.”
O’Connor attributes these delays to systemic issues, including a massive backlog, inconsistent judge rulings, and technological barriers with virtual hearings. She also notes that attorney shortages exacerbate the problem, as low compensation deters lawyers from taking these complex, years-long cases. Former Commissioner of the SSA, Martin O’Malley, acknowledged the issue in a September 2024 blog post, stating, “We strive to provide the high level of service our customers expect and deserve, but it still takes too long for the Social Security Administration and state-level Disability Determination Services offices to make initial decisions for those applying for disability benefits.
Concerns have been raised about potential further delays in processing disability appeals due to the SSA not renewing leases for small, remote hearing sites.
A spokesperson for the SSA noted that most hearings are now held virtually, and in FY24, twenty percent of these offices held no in-person hearings. As the backlog continues to grow, it is clear that the SSA faces significant challenges in providing timely assistance to those in need. Addressing these systemic issues will be crucial in ensuring that disabled Americans receive the support they require without enduring prolonged periods of financial hardship and uncertainty.
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