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Social Security Hearing Backlog Reaches All Time High – August 2007

Published on August 27th, 2007

As of July, 2007, the national backlog of pending Social Security disability cases reached an all time high of nearly 750,000 cases. The average processing time is now up to 528 days. On July 30, 2007, USA Today featured a front page story on the issue with an additional story about the impact on individual claimants.

The Chicago Regional Office handles cases out of the Chicago, Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio regions. The average processing time on Chicago region cases ranked dead last among the 11 national regions with a processing time of 650 days. The actual Chicago and individual suburban hearing offices vary significantly in their processing time.

Some help may be on the way soon. The Social Security Administration recently announced that the hearing office staff attorneys will temporarily have the authority to approve disability claims. This program had been very effective in the mid 1990s in helping to reduce the backlog at that time.

For the time being, please remember to keep your Social Security Disability lawyer up to date with treatment information and to continue receiving ongoing medical attention. This is the best way to have your case reviewed to try to cut down on the lengthy hearing delays.

I am so happy! Thank you for helping me with my case. You made everything go so smoothly. No I know why you are 'number one' in Chicago. I will surely send qualified friends and family your way when they need your help. Thanks again.

Suzanne K.