SSA Establishes New Goals For Processing Social Security Disability Claims

April 3, 2013

In an effort to reduce costs and wait times associated with slow processing of Social Security Disability claims, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has established a set of goals aimed at creating a more efficient system.

An SSA press release explained the agency would first be attempting to bump the number of claims employees initially process through out the remainder of the year to more than 1.1 million. Employees also have a goal of minimizing the initial processing time on a claim to an average of less than 137 days.

Officials also hope to increase the number of hearing requests scheduled throughout the rest of the year from last year’s goal of 875,000 claims to 960,000 cases being heard. They also plan to cut the wait time following a hearing being scheduled to the time a decision is reached by a total of 51 days.

The agency has also asked employees to slash the number of cases awaiting a hearing with the Appeals Council to less than 19 percent of all claims.

The performance measures will be evaluated again for success towards the end of the year.

Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin and their team of Social Security Disability Lawyers are aware of how frustrating awaiting a decision on a disability claim can be. That’s why the firm suggests discussing your case with a qualified attorney before filing a claim.