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What to do while waiting on Social Security to act
BY:ROBERT EDELSTEIN
Q: I applied for Social Security disability almost a year ago, and I was told my hearing is still pending. Are there any shortcuts or ways to deal with such a delay?
A: “The number of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) cases—more than 2.5 million a year—and the time it takes to make a decision have never been this high in our history,” admits Mark Hinkle, national spokesperson for the
Social Security Administration in Baltimore.
The administration, says Hinkle, has been “underfunded for six years; the average processing time for a hearing is 497 days. Depending on the case and your location, it could be two or three years, because claim decisions are made by state agencies.”
The best advice: Stay on top of your claim at every phase. “When you first file, we need a complete history of hospitalizations, doctors and tests—as much information as is possible,” Hinkle says. “If you haven’t had updated testing, we might set up updates with doctors. Sometimes people don’t comply, which causes more delays. Going to our doctors is a necessity.”
As for hastening the process, Hinkle points out that “dire circumstances, such as your health or financial situation taking a turn for worse, need to be brought to the attention of your local Social Security office. If there’s a change in your condition or if a new test is done, get that information to us right away.”
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