Finally – some good news about the SSA Disability hearing backlog.  In a February 26, 2008 press release, SSA Commissioner Michael Astrue announced that SSA had tendered job offers to 144 of the 175 new Administrative Law Judges that it plans to hire during fiscal year 2008.  The press release notes that the agency has 10% fewer judges that it did ten years ago, while the caseload has doubled.

Commissioner Astrue says that the new judges will begin training in April and should be prepared hear full calendars by the end of 2008.

The press release does not say where the new judges will be stationed, but I presume that the hearing offices with the biggest backlogs – like Atlanta – will likely get new judges.  The downtown Atlanta hearing office recently moved to larger quarters with more hearing rooms, which is a good sign.

Thanks to my loyal reader Mike for bringing this press release to my attention.