The Subcommittee on Social Security of the House and Ways Committee will hold an oversight hearing on April 15 to assess how the Social Security Administration (SSSA) can better manage its backlogs of disability claims and applications for retirement benefits. The focus of the hearing will be on how to improve efficiencies at SSA’s field offices, teleservices centers, and on the Internet.

Congressional concerns about SSA’s sinking abilities to handle an overwhelming surge of disability and retirement claims spurred on by the recession and an aging baby boomer population, prompted increased funding to SSA in 2008 through 2010. However, SSA continues to struggle to overcome resource shortages. 

Staffing at local field offices has dropped almost to 1972 levels causing strains on SSA employees trying to keep up with rapidly increasing workloads of new claims to process. Field office managers have reported that they do not have enough staff to handle phone calls and walk-in visitors. They say they don’t have efficient manpower to process disability cases that require interviews with claimants and more documentation to determine eligibility.  Inefficiencies in developing disability cases has added to the long denial-appeal cycle that is affecting people who desperately need income from disability benefits.

SSA has set a goal to have more applications for benefits be filed online via the SSA Web site so that field offices will be less pressured. However, there are concerns. Can SSA’s Internet application process meet the needs of claimants who may want guidance in making retirement decisions or help in completing an application for disability benefits?

Though only invited witnesses will be at the hearing, anyone can submit written comments for the hearing record by Thursday, April 29, 2010. The hearing begins at 10 a.m., Thursday, April 15, and can be viewed on the Ways and Means YouTube Channel.

While the government works out how to improve services at SSA, perhaps people who need disability benefits would have better luck going to a reliable disability advocacy group such as Freedom Disability to help them with their disability claim. The key to avoiding unnecessary delays in getting approved for disability benefits is to prepare a complete and accurate application. Getting expert help could very well be the better path to take to avoid SSA’s disability backlog.