Eliminating the Disability Backlog:
House Ways and Means Subcommittees — March 24, 2009
On March 24, 2009, two subcommittees of House Ways and Means held a joint hearing on eliminating the Social Security disability backlog.
The Social Security Task Force of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), a working coalition that includes NOSSCR, appeared as an invited panelist and submitted written testimony. Peggy Hathaway, Vice President of the United Spinal Association, represented CCD at the hearing.
NOSSCR helped to draft the testimony, which includes a number of reports from NOSSCR members about the hardships faced by their clients awaiting decisions on their disability claims.
In announcing the hearing, Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Tanner said, "Today thousands of Americans with severe disabilities must wait months – and sometimes years – to receive benefits. We are committed to ensuring that the Social Security Administration is on top of this problem and receives the resources it needs to eliminate the huge backlog in disability claims. We must also ensure the agency has the necessary resources to handle increased workloads associated with the economic recession, perform program integrity reviews, and provide the highest-quality service to the American people."
Income Security and Family Support Chairman Jim McDermott said, "Far too many of our most vulnerable elderly and disabled citizens are waiting too long to get the benefits that they deserve and are entitled to under the law. Congress has responded to this crisis by providing the Social Security Administration with increased funds in order to begin to actively address this problem, but it is time for the agency to take more action to significantly reduce the waiting period before an individual gets the benefits and services they need, while also ensuring the integrity of the process."
