Improving Claims Process

SSA's disability programs have experienced significant growth over the past decade and are expected to grow even more as increasing numbers of baby boomers reach their disability-prone years. Growth in the number of new applications for benefits combined with other factors such as staff losses, management weaknesses, budget constraints, and an economic downturn has exacerbated SSA's disability claims process. For example, SSA has

• accumulated a large backlog of claims, adversely affecting claimants and SSA's program integrity activities. In fiscal year 2006, at one of the appellate levels of SSA's claims process, it took claimants an average of more than 480 days at the hearings level to receive a decision regarding their eligibility for disability benefits.

  Highlights of GAO-08-40 (PDF)

• reduced the number of reviews to determine whether individuals receiving benefits continue to be eligible for them.

  Highlights of GAO-08-40 (PDF)

• developed a plan to reduce the hearings backlog.

  Highlights of GAO-09-398 (PDF)

Figure 1: Growth in the Number of SSA Disability Claims, 1997-2006

Source: GAO analysis of SSA data.

^ Back to topWhat Needs to Be Done

• SSA should take steps to increase the likelihood that new initiatives designed to improve its disability programs succeed, such as involving the appropriate staff in the design and implementation stages, establishing feedback mechanisms to track progress and problems, and performing periodic evaluations.

  Highlights of GAO-08-40 (PDF)

• SSA needs to monitor risks to ensure that other operations are not adversely affected by the implementation of its hearings backlog reduction plan and continue moving forward with its efforts to formalize risk assessments associated with the plan's implementation. SSA also needs to develop performance goals and cost estimates for key initiatives that do not have them.

  Highlights of GAO-09-398 (PDF)

^ Back to topKey Reports

Social Security Disability

Social Security Disability

Social Security Disability

Social Security Administration

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