Social Security Faces Backlog of 1 Million Disability Applications

There is a major problem with the processing of applications for Social Security disability benefits. A combination of factors, including a lack of funding, an aging population, and workforce attrition, has caused a backlog of over one million initial disability claims.

Speaking at an Urban Institute forum on April 11, Kilolo Kijakazi, the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), described the challenges of running an agency with over 60,000 employees who manage the retirement and disability benefits of more than 70 million Americans.

Kijakazi said, “SSA received insufficient funding from Congress to administer its programs for over a decade. This resulted in hiring freezes, and the number of Social Security beneficiaries was increasing at the same time.”

She pointed out that in 2022, the workforce reached its lowest point in the last 25 years, while the number of beneficiaries was at an all-time high. The agency is struggling to keep up with demand, which means many people who have applied for Social Security Disability Insurance must wait for at least five months for a decision.

Kijakazi has implemented several strategies to address the backlog, including creating a special team and using analytics to identify bottlenecks in the determination process. However, she admits that increased funding is necessary to fully resolve the problem.

The impact of the backlog is that individuals are left waiting for benefits they deserve for many months. This has resulted in serious financial hardship for many Americans who rely on Social Security for their livelihoods.