To everyone’s mounting frustration, the Social Security Administration still cannot bring a case to reasonably prompt hearing and decision. Back on December 10, 2007, the Chicago Tribune reported that “Lengthening delays in the resolution of Social Security disability claims have left hundreds of thousands of people in a kind of purgatory, waiting as long as three years for a decision.” Since then, the hearing delays have not improved. In fact, as of July 25, 2008, the Chicago area hearing offices seem to be slipping further behind.

The west suburban hearing office in Oak Brook Terrace now ranks 141st of 147 offices in the entire nation with an average processing time of 793 days after the appeal is filed.

The south suburban hearing office in Orland Park is 140th with a processing time of 786 days.

The downtown Chicago hearing office ranks 117th and is taking an average of 646 days to process an appeal.

The north suburban office in Evanston is 93rd with a wait of 521 days.

From our experience, the Evanston hearing office appears to be making an attempt to schedule more cases for hearing. The backlog seems to be getting worse elsewhere.

You can help matters along by continuing to see your doctor regularly and keeping him or her aware of your ongoing problems. Cases that are documented well have a better chance of being screened without a hearing.