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AALJ Testimony: Eliminating the Disability Backlog
House Ways and Means Subcommittees — April 27, 2010

On April 27, 2010, two subcommittees of House Ways and Means held a joint hearing on eliminating the Social Security disability backlog. AALJ President Randy Frye was an invited panelist, and his testimony is linked below.

In announcing the hearing, Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) said, “Americans with severe disabilities cannot afford to wait years to receive benefits they desperately need and to which they are entitled. Congress has made it a priority to provide SSA with the funding needed to reduce the lengthy wait times for disability hearings, and I am very pleased to see the progress made on this front. However, it is essential that SSA continue to receive the needed resources. We must also ensure that the agency has an aggressive plan to address the growing backlog in initial claims, and that initiatives to address the backlogs do not inadvertently result in harm to disability applicants. This hearing will provide an opportunity to examine these concerns more closely.”

Income Security and Family Support Chairman Jim McDermott (D-WA) commented, “As is the case with all Federal agencies that serve needy Americans, the demand for Social Security’s services has skyrocketed in the recession. Despite meaningful efforts and initial success in addressing the hearings backlog, I have grave concerns that the increased demand, both as a result of the economy and of our nation's aging population, will outpace these efforts.”

• AALJ Submitted Testimony [PDF]

• Ways and Means Home Page for April 27, 2010 Hearing
  Text & Video of All Panel Presentations