Florida Social Security Disability

The Social Security Commissioner, Michael J. Astrue, recently announced that the number of disability hearings pending has been reduced by more than 71,000 cases since December 2008.  Additionally, the average processing time for hearing decision has been reduced from 415 days to 442 days.  The Social Security Administration is continuing to try to address this issue and has hired 147 new judges and over 1,000 support staff in 2009.  There are plans to hire an additional 226 judges in 2010.  In addition to these actions, there are four National Hearing Centers to help process hearings by video conference for the most hard-hit areas of the country.  The agency also has aggressive plans to open 14 new hearing offices and three satellite offices by the end of the year.  The first of these offices was opened in Anchorage, Alaska on February 19, 2010.For more information about Social Security’s hearings process and backlog reduction initiatives, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/appeals.  In addition to the steps being taken by the Administration, there are also ways that you can ensure your claim is reveiwed early. If you have questions about a Social Security disability claim or Supplemental Security Income claim, please feel free to contact me at 352-629-0480 or visit our website at www.ocalaw.com