The Terrifying Backlog at ODAR

 Posted on September 11,2009 in Social Security Disability

The National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR), which can be found at NOSSCR.org, issued a report recently on the extent of Social Security's case backlog. You can click on each picture to get an idea of the backlog and average time per region/city. As daunting as the backlog appears, we can only hope the Commissioner's plans to reorganize the ODAR headquarters can improve the rate that claims are followed through. Below were his words of encouragement:

In order to provide better service to the American people by making better and faster decisions, the reorganization of ODAR headquarters will take effect in October. We are also reviewing the ODAR Regional Office structure. We expect to implement the regional office reorganization during FY 2010.

You are all doing a great job - and please know that you make an important difference in people's lives every day. We are on a good path for reducing the disability backlog by 2013. Due to the recession and because we continue to be in the disability prone years of the baby boomers, we know that FY 2010 and FY 2011 are going to be difficult years. However, please know that all of our hiring and space expansion activities this year have been in preparation for this coming bulge.

I hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day Weekend.

/s/

David V. Foster

Deputy Commissioner