The average wait time for Social Security disability appeals is over nine months. As of January, almost 270,949 Americans were awaiting decisions on disability appeals. The Social Security Administration (SSA) hired nearly 600 Administrative Law Judges (ALJ) and 500 decision writers between 2016 and 2018 to expedite the process, which gradually reduced processing times and backlogs to a 30-year low (261,574) in September 2024.
However, pending cases jumped by almost 10,000 to over 270,000 in four months, raising questions about the effectiveness of SSA's actions. The resurgence in delays can be attributed to significant system issues, which are financially affecting countless Americans relying on Social Security benefits as they are unable to work due to disabilities. Prolonged delays often translate to financial hardships for this vulnerable population and also increase the chances of exacerbating existing health issues.
