Rise and Fall in Cases Pending an Administrative Law Judge Hearing: New Actuarial Study
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: May 24, 2018
The “great recession” that began at the end of 2007 contributed to a rise in initial applications for Social Security disability benefits that peaked in 2010. This surge in initial applications led to a similar rise in appeals for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Because the surge in appeals for a hearing exceeded the capacity to complete hearings quickly, the number of cases that had appealed but were still pending an ALJ determination rose. In fact, the number of disability applicants with an ALJ hearing pending rose up to the end of 2016. However, with the improving economy, declining appeals, hiring more judges, additional funding provided by the Congress to address the hearings backlog in fiscal years 2017 and 2018, and implementation of the Compassionate and Responsive Service (CARES) plan, the number of cases pending an ALJ hearing declined in 2017, and is continuing to decline today.
As the number of claimants pending an ALJ determination rose through 2016, so too did the number of these applicants who died while waiting rise. But with the number of applicants pending a hearing declining in 2017, so too did the number who died while waiting begin to drop. With continued low unemployment, and declining numbers of applicants and appeals to ALJs, we expect the numbers of applicants pending a hearing will continue to drop, as will the number of deaths among those waiting for an ALJ hearing.
In Actuarial Note 159, “Probability of Death While Pending an Administrative Law Judge Determination,” that we are releasing today, we provide the number of applicants pending an ALJ determination and the number of these individuals who died while waiting for each year 2006 through 2017. We also provide the death rate among those pending an ALJ determination on an age-sex adjusted basis, and show that this death rate has changed little, declining slightly over these years.
Finally, we compare the death rate among disability applicants pending an ALJ determination to the death rate of individuals at the same age and sex in the general population, and to the death rate of those individuals who have been determined to be disabled and are in their first 2 years of benefit entitlement. As a consequence of the strict requirements for severe medically determinable impairments, applicants for Social Security disability benefits tend to have higher death rates than the average persons in our population at the same age and sex. While the death rate for applicants pending an ALJ determination is two to three times as high as that for the general population, it is only about one-fourth as high as the death rate for workers who have been awarded disabled worker benefits, in their first two years of benefit entitlement.
Social Security’s Office of the Chief Actuary evaluates trends in demographic, economic, and programmatic experience, including mortality rates, and publishes a variety of regular reports and special studies. The main Social Security Administration website provides links to information about Social Security’s disability benefits programs, including a wealth of information to help you secure today and tomorrow.
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Tags: Social Security benefits, social security disability benefits
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Stephen C. Goss, Chief Actuary
Stephen C. Goss, Chief Actuary
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Ron
I want to emphasize that SSA should set an example for all governent agencies in the principle of BY THE PEOPLE and FOR THE PEOPLE. Are reviewers of these comments in a position to change and correct any of the issues discussed here? Can a Public Relations Specialist effect changes in the rules? I want to believe the best in SSA workers and that many are heartbroken because of what they can not do for clients.
There are many areas to fund better SSA benefits. Tariffs are collected increasingly on imports, we leave valuable military equipment or destroy that equipment in foreign lands, We have agencies that spend money on upgrades or maintainence only to have that item sold for pennies on the dollar or destroyed shortly afterward.
Perhaps for all the education the controllers have accumulated they can not handle money as well as the clients they serve. Poverty teaches efficient use of funds. Having to make a choice between food, medicine, and rent is an education most Administrators do not have as it is not a credential for the job.
SSA is necessary and it has been in place for decades, but it has always been funded by the PONZI scheme requiring an every increasing number of new workers to fund retirement benefits for the older people and survivors. You would think that these shortcomings would have been worked out by now.
Marcia L.
It’s been 8 months today since my judge’s hearing (3 years since my date of disability). The first thing I do everyday is go online and see the same “pending.” My lawyer was able to find out from the judge’s office that it went into “decision writing” May 1st. 74 days ago.
I am living on credit cards and trying to get a little part time work done through the pain of multiple conditions. Both the vocational expert or doctor at hearing agreed I couldn’t work full time again. The judge told me she’d have it finished in 30-90 days. The only issue was my date of disability. That was December 31, 2017.
If anyone thinks this process is easy, it’s not. I wish I could just work full time. The waiting times have just gotten worse — even though I had a video hearing.
Ray F.
We apologize for the long wait, Marcia. Many claims are randomly selected for a quality assurance review of the decision. We attempt to resolve all claims promptly, but there may be delays due to the volume of pending claims in your area.
Please continue working with your attorney and local hearing office on specific questions about your case. Thanks!
Ronda n.
I am in the same situation, waiting for the decision. It been over a year since the hearing. My attorney wont even come to the phone, she has her secretary tell me sorry nothing new. Its not like i call her continuosly. I have called ssa andd the adjuciary hearing something. I dont recall the full name of where the ssa told me to call, but all they sqid was they can ask them to speed it up. I hace trouble getting my medications. I have no income. (,sorry for typos, usually i have my daughter type in for me. My eyesight is bad and my hands are sore. )
Ray F.
Hello Ronda. The length of time it takes to get a formal decision after a hearing can vary from state to state. We attempt to resolve all claims promptly, but there may be delays due to the volume of pending appeals in your area. Please continue working with your local hearing office on specific questions about your case. Thank you.
Jodie H.
Attempting to ….”work with the hearings office” as you suggest my husband had those cruel people report him to the Dept.of Homeland Security…. The agent sheepishly explained to him….and I quote : ” I have listened to the telephone recordings…..You did not threaten anyone…..but I gotta follow up on all such reports…”
Those folks at the hearings office are all attorneys…..or judges….they knew that his emotional nature did not meet the standards of any form of threat to persons or property…..Yet they called Homeland Security on him….anyway…
It is another in a long pattern of harassment…..intimidation…discrimination…..abuse….and bullying.
Jacqueline D.
I want I know why my son and I are Disabled. He is 15 with SMA SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY from birth. He gets denied all benefits, he needs a Handicap Van and it seems like no one in Government can answer or give you the Dept no one knows nothing. Social Security states he is entitled to PASS transition to work he can have Section 1915 or Section 1115, everybody plays dumb when you call them. Same Dept HHS WITH THE GRANTS HE AND I ARE ENTITLED TO. Why did they say I can’t get the SSI extra help for Low Income when your website says I am eligible. I am low income. I need to start suing people for discrimination for Housing and the HUD DEPT. Medicaid has all over the web about there Waiver 1915 you call them, they don’t have a clue who III need to talk to. They need to be educated and organized. It’s pure laziness or they are dumb or there needs to be continuous education if you are working especially with Disabled people that needs the help and you have employees that don’t Know there job. This is what I have paid taxes in since I was 16 years old and I am 56 and paid there salary for years and can’t get a answer. Come on now. My son has suffered because of stupid people and yes I am pissed. He has missed out on life because of ignorant people that sit behind a desk sucking up the benefits of the Government. My son is a MINORITY AS HE IS WHITE BUT A MINORITY AND HE HAS RIGHTS TOO. CIVIL, HUMAN, DISABILITY should I go on. 11 years in school and he gets ripped off. Taking advantage of Disability Children, it’s a disgrace these children have to suffer more because of no housing for them or benefits. Give it all to the seniors, elderly and veterans. The Children are the future not the past. If you don’t take care of these bright and intelligent Children just because he can’t walk he has a brain. You deny him a chance at life and living and this is my money I worked hard for not yours and not the Employees. So stop playing GOD WITH MY MONEY AND WHAT RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO US. THIS IS NOT RUSSIA WE ARE NOT COMMUNIST COUNTRY SO STOP MAKING DEMANDS. SMOKING CIGARETTES YOU TELL US WHAT TO DO, NOW ITS THE PAIN PILLS I NEED MY MEDICINES YOU ARE NOT KILLING ME AND I AM NOT LIVING IN CHRONIC PAIN OR MY SON, Because the doctors started all of this to begin with feeding there patients for the money and to rip off insurance companies and Medicaid Medicare. We are not stupid and the doctors are on the Drugs. So they open up a Suboxone Clinic to get there money that way. That’s the worst drug to come off of.vi heard the withdrawal system are horrible worst then opioid. Get Educated Government before you start running your mouths and putting demands on and using the law. Let’s Drug Test the Doctors to see if they are capable of treating us. I don’t trust them because they don’t Know my disease and they are killing me slowly taking away very important medication that I need for Lupus fibromyalgia neuropathy Osteoarthritis Rheumatoid arthritis and COPD should I tell you more and you want me to suffer. Hell no…
Kaviraj
Very nice Artical – https://www.propluslogics.com
Lesly F.
Disabilities is about we can’t work.but retirement is about people who working and pay social security from earning income that my understanding its two different claims.
Ray F.
Yes, Lesly! We pay disability benefits to individuals who cannot longer work because of a medical condition that will last at least a year or resulting in death. When it comes to qualifying for disability benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance program (SSDI), you must be “currently insured” or have worked long enough–and recently enough—under Social Security.
The earliest age a person can apply for retirement benefits is 62. You need 40 credits (generally 10 years of work and paying into Social Security) to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits.
See Insured Status Requirements for more information. Thanks!
Nancy G.
It is very reassuring to know that the Government is so Greedy. The hardworking citizens who truly have disabilities and have worked and paid into the system, are told that if they become disabled now the benefit amount they would receive. Unfortunately, they neglected to inform us that you have a 99.9% rate of being declined of your benefits, and come to find out I am personally on the statistics list of the 10,000 people per year that do not make it waiting for their rightfully earned Disability Benefits. I would like to know why Social Security Administration sent me to their Doctors to be checked. I was stunned to find out that, the Social Security Doctors did not address one of the issues that I was trying to get my benefits for. If the tax paying citizens are paying for the service that I received. I clearly see why the medical industry is making a killing. The Doctors DO NOT CARE. Why would you give a physical to a patient who has been diagnosed with a FATAL AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE. Neither Social Security Doctor would even listen to me or look at the photos as well as look at my skin, and all of the other places on my body that have been suffering for 3 years. I fractured my foot which I never stated was a disability that would have anything to do with my Social Security Disability Case. I was denied with a letter stating that a Fractured Foot would not prevent me from working for 12 months. I have no idea why my foot was even a issue. I applied for my Social Security Disability Benefits due to a Fatal Autoimmune Disease. That office visit was not only a waste of my time but a complete waste of money to whomever is responsible for the payment to a useless Doctor visit initiated and required by the Social Security Administration. They waste the tax paying citizens money and continue to let the Government Pocket Our hard earned benefit payment funds so that they can capitalize. I have been waiting and waiting for my benefits, I am spoken to like a FIRST CLASS BEGGER WHO IS NO LONGER OF WORTH. From bringing in 6 figures for over 30 years I can not rely on the system that I paid into to help me in a diar time of need. I am disgusted by this system. Then I am told to contact my Congressmen’s office in the 33rd District Ted Lieu. This office was again a complete waste of my time and energy. Ted Lieu our Congressman could care a less about the citizens. He gets all of the Government Perks and Benefits PAID BY US TAX PAYING CITIZENS. This office was completely useless on top of that I was denied the name of the Supervisor I had to contact in Washington DC. I really thought I would receive some type of assistance but again not one thing Ted Lieu’s office could do. I have not worked since 8/2015 and have depleted all of my resources. I have exceeded the one year that I have not been able to work and I still have to wait. On top of that come to find out I was being treated by a Doctor that DID NOT HAVE A ACTIVE MEDICAL LICENSE. This person calling themselves a Doctor was actually convicted of wrong doings to patient not one time but several. He has had his Medical License Revoked, his office billed my insurance company in the amount of $2488.00 in medical services that I never received they were paid in full. I contact the Medical Board and they tell me they do not have the resources to make sure all Doctors have active Medical License. I am on Medi-Cal of which us tax paying citizens are taxed for. The system commits FRAUD and no one cares. As long as the Employees for the Government are being paid they have absolutely no care in the world about the Citizens who pay their salaries as well as the Citizens that voted and put Ted Lieu as Congressmen. I an sickened by this system. It only goes to show that the Government is designed to lie, cheat and steal from the United Staes Citizens. I have been disabled and now my face is disfigured due to a neglect Medi-Cal Doctor who is still practicing as of now. Our system is a joke. It is all about how much money the Government Employees as well as the Phony Government Officials that we voted for and put them in a position to continue to take advantage of the Citizens. I can personally say I reached out to Congressmen’s Ted Lieu’s office of the 33rd District and was told that there is nothing they can do to help me. Then I see Ted Lieu on TV with his face makeup and fancy lighting equipment to enhance his appearance . Let’s keep it real, oops I forgot the Government is a LEGAL MOPHIA. The Government workers and politicians are always getting caught with their hands in the cookie jar. This experience is a loud and clear message that as I have believed all along is really a Publicized Comic Show. I am stunned by all of the Government employees that I have spoken with who do not know anything and certainly can not even provide the proper answer/information to a question. They are all jokes. Please be ware the system DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOU. Make sure you find a way to provide or yourself before you become one of the 10,000 statistics per yer.
Steve
BUT THEY CAN GIVE IT TO IRAN!
Kitti
AAAAAIIIIEEEEE!!!!!
Dorlisa W.
I would like to know the status of my case.
John C.
if and when you live near SSa and it’s near a train station.(mostly on eastern US)you probably have to take extra steps.i am from brevard florida.i go to one office and it’s near US1.in jersey several offices to choose from, with a short drive and a bus,this doesn’t mean they are all good.i am in richmond and didn’t get paid and in two offices!it’s thursday and i’m a green beret marine who reports my earnings to them and put my best foot forward.
suresh
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