Stark Slams Social Security Backlog
Congressional Desk
March 29, 2009
Underfunding, understaffing has led to large backlog for disability claims, delayed delivery of benefits
WASHINGTON – Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) pressed the Social Security Administration (SSA) to reduce a backlog of 1.3 million disability claims. The House Ways and Means Subcommittees on Social Security and Income Security and Family Support convened a joint hearing on the backlog, which has led to waiting times extending into years; long lines, delays, and busy signals in SSA´s field offices; and substantial delays in programs that ensure the efficient and proper delivery of benefits.
"After years of underfunding during Republican-led Congresses, we now see beneficiaries paying the price in the form of longer wait times and delayed delivery of benefits," said Rep. Stark. "It is critical that seniors and persons with disabilities have access to their benefits and that our Social Security system is run efficiently, particularly when we face a recession of historic proportions. Congress is committed to working with SSA to ensure that they have the resources they need to serve our constituents."
Stark added that despite the daunting workloads, frontline workers are doing the best they can. "I would like to thank all of the staff at both the Oakland and San Jose offices who do such an outstanding job, despite the lack of resources and the high number of cases they must handle," Stark told SSA Commissioner Astrue during the hearing.
Approximately 2 million Californians rely on Social Security disability benefits to make ends meet. Unfortunately, the average processing times for the Oakland and San Jose SSA offices, which serve the East Bay, are 495 and 404 days respectively. The long wait times are a result of nearly a decade of under funding by a Republican-led Congresses between FY 1998 and FY 2007. During that time, SSA received a cumulative total of $4.6 billion less than the Commissioner´s request. Beginning in FY 2008, Congress has started to provide additional funding to SSA to address the backlog, including $150 million above President Bush´s FY 2008 request and $126.5 million above Bush´s request for FY 2009 through the recently passed Omnibus Appropriations Act. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided SSA with $1 billion to address the rising number of claims during the current recession.
WASHINGTON – Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) pressed the Social Security Administration (SSA) to reduce a backlog of 1.3 million disability claims. The House Ways and Means Subcommittees on Social Security and Income Security and Family Support convened a joint hearing on the backlog, which has led to waiting times extending into years; long lines, delays, and busy signals in SSA´s field offices; and substantial delays in programs that ensure the efficient and proper delivery of benefits.
"After years of underfunding during Republican-led Congresses, we now see beneficiaries paying the price in the form of longer wait times and delayed delivery of benefits," said Rep. Stark. "It is critical that seniors and persons with disabilities have access to their benefits and that our Social Security system is run efficiently, particularly when we face a recession of historic proportions. Congress is committed to working with SSA to ensure that they have the resources they need to serve our constituents."
Stark added that despite the daunting workloads, frontline workers are doing the best they can. "I would like to thank all of the staff at both the Oakland and San Jose offices who do such an outstanding job, despite the lack of resources and the high number of cases they must handle," Stark told SSA Commissioner Astrue during the hearing.
Approximately 2 million Californians rely on Social Security disability benefits to make ends meet. Unfortunately, the average processing times for the Oakland and San Jose SSA offices, which serve the East Bay, are 495 and 404 days respectively. The long wait times are a result of nearly a decade of under funding by a Republican-led Congresses between FY 1998 and FY 2007. During that time, SSA received a cumulative total of $4.6 billion less than the Commissioner´s request. Beginning in FY 2008, Congress has started to provide additional funding to SSA to address the backlog, including $150 million above President Bush´s FY 2008 request and $126.5 million above Bush´s request for FY 2009 through the recently passed Omnibus Appropriations Act. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided SSA with $1 billion to address the rising number of claims during the current recession.
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