Backlog at 1.3 Million and Growing
Belleville, Ill. (3/23/07) - A public-private partnership may be the solution to the Social Security Administration’s disability crisis, Jim Allsup, CEO of Allsup Inc., stated in written testimony to the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security. The Subcommittee met February 14 to discuss the huge backlog of Social Security disability claims affecting more than one million Americans.
During the hearing, Social Security experts warned Congress that the problem will grow even more severe if the status-quo continues. Mr. Allsup, a former Social Security Administration employee, is the founder of Allsup Inc., a leading national provider of Social Security Disability Insurance representation services.
Warning of a meltdown in the agency’s disability program, Mr. Allsup added that third-party organizations such as Allsup Inc. “are well-tested and available to assist increasing numbers of individuals with applying for SSDI claims.” He added, “Current [disability] claimants are experiencing unacceptable delays in obtaining determinations. Disability applicants and [Social Security Administration] employees need help immediately.”
Mr. Allsup’s full subcommittee testimony can be viewed here.
A Ways and Means Committee press release stated, “Nowhere is the situation more grave than in the processing of applications for disability benefits. Due to large and increasing backlogs, severely disabled individuals can wait years to get the benefits they need for basic economic survival.” The release continued, “At the end of fiscal year 2006, about 1.3 million people were awaiting a decision.”