September 22, 2008
Hearing Delays Statistics Updated
Social Security has released its latest reports documenting delays in hearing offices throughout the country. The report, from the Office of the Inspector General, does not contain a comparison to last year's report but it does appear to me that there has been a slight improvement in reducing delays. In Atlanta, where I practice there has been a slight improvement from over 900 days delay to 713 day (downtown Atlanta) and 872 days (Atlanta North).
This month's NOSSCR (National Association of Social Security Claimant's Representatives) newsletter contains a story about SSA Commissioner Michael Astrue's efforts to increase the productivity of the judges and to reduce backlogs. As noted before, I applaud SSA's transition to electronic file folders and it does appear that Commissioner Astrue's efforts are beginning to pay off.
I scanned the report from the NOSSCR Forum bulletin, which you can download by clicking on the link here: ssdelays
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Filed under Delays by Jonathan Ginsberg
Comments on Hearing Delays Statistics Updated »
I don't see Boise on the list… that is really depressing.
Actually, Mary, the Boise ODAR is part of the Billings office, which is #32 on the list at 405 days (slightly over 1 year). This means that a Boise claimant will have his case heard twice as fast as a claimant in Indianapolis, which has the longest delays of 887 days.
Wow! That's great. Since my application for hearing was 11/20/07, I have a chance to have a hearing date before the end of the year!
Crossing my fingers!!!!
Thanks Jonathan!