SSA budget increase to reduce backlog, expedite disability claims

[Guest guest]

SSA budget increase to reduce backlog, expedite disability claims

http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2007/12/22/ssa-budget-increase-to-

reduce-backlog-expedite-disability-claims/

The news could have been better, but given the circumstances, the

news for SSA is positive. The FY 2008 Omnibus budget bill, which has

been passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate,

recommends a funding level for SSA of $9,746,953,000. The

President's FY 2008 budget request for SSA was $9,596,953,000. The

first version of the Labor-HHS bill provided $275 million over the

President's budget, but was vetoed by the President.

In fashioning a new bill, there was talk that most federal agencies

would receive only the President's request. The bill actually

recommended an even higher number for SSA's administrative funding;

however, that amount was reduced by an across-the-board cut of

1.747%, reducing the SSA funding level.

Bottom line: In the end, SSA came out ahead of the game, but not as

much as we had hoped. After the across-the-board reduction, SSA's

administrative funding in the FY 08 Omnibus measure is $150.0

million over the President's budget request - and $451.0 million

over the FY 200 level of funding.

In addition, the language in the Explanatory Statement accompanying

the bill also removes the requirement from the President's proposed

budget that SSA perform additional Continuing Disability Reviews and

SSI redeterminations of eligibility. While this will provide SSA

with more flexibility to address other workloads including the

disability backlogs, it may cause the CDR and SSI redetermination

backlog to grow.

We are hopeful that the $150.0 million should allow SSA to hire ALJs

and other staff to start addressing the hearings backlogs and keep

the number of initial disability claims pending from rising.

If the President signs the bill, as is expected, this will be the

first time in ten years that SSA has received at least the

President's request.

About the Author: Schorr is the Executive Director of NOSSCR,

the National Organization of Social Security Claimants

Representation, an organization committed to providing the highest

quality of representation and advocacy on behalf of people seeking

Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income.