Those who apply for Social Security Disability benefits are often frustrated by the wait times. It can take months or even years to receive a determination. To some extent, this is due to a backlog of cases. Someone who applies today may urgently need assistance, but the Social Security Administration (SSA) is still working on cases submitted long ago.
A recent report suggests that one reason for these delays is the SSA’s limited operating budget. Moreover, it appears that this budget has been shrinking over time.
The decline in 2024
One notable factor is that the SSA had a small operating budget as far back as 2018. The report states that the total budget for the administration was just 1.2% of the benefits paid out. Compared to private insurance companies, this is a very modest budget to handle such a high level of benefit payments. In 2018, the average wait time for an initial determination was approximately four months.
However, in 2024, the report claims that the budget has decreased to just 0.94% of the benefits being paid out by the SSA—a significant decline of around 25%. This has created challenges for the agency, such as hiring new staff or retaining its current workforce. Due to these constraints, the SSA states that turnaround times are now double what they were in 2018. If this trend continues, wait times could become even longer.
Understanding your options
It’s important to recognize the complexities and limitations of the system. If you are facing a denial or filing a claim, take the time to carefully consider all of the legal options available to you and the steps you need to take.
