Social Security’s disability determination has been broken for decades. Everyone knows somebody enduring this tragedy. I'm asking members of the Social Security subcommittees in the House and Senate to reverse the 2016 hiring freeze on judges by Executive Order, continued in 2019 by SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul, who doesn't understand why the backlog exists. With an increasing population comes more disability. We cannot replace retiring judges, let alone hire current or future needs.

Between 800,000 and 1.2 million people file disability appeals yearly—over half of them later win, taking up to 3 years. The average wait time is 526 days. During this time, many of these honest Americans declare bankruptcy and become homeless. Tragically, 1 in 6 men (and 1 in 7 women) die within 5 years of receiving disability benefits. 

The rejection of all disability claims is mandated by the agency at a level of 85% (or more) of all applications. This objective's cryptically disguised as the National Agree Rate. The agency has been operating without accountability for two decades, while 10,000 died awaiting benefits in 2018.

The SSD trust fund will be exhausted in 2023, according to a 2017 CBO report. "Boomers" born between 1946 and 1964 have been postponing retirement, with many becoming disabled; causing extra strain to the SSD determination process. The agency won't add much needed staff because they project the backlog ending in 2025...two years after the disability trust fund's exhausted! 

A friend (born legally blind) was denied in 1994 when applying at 18. They had to appeal, with the same "horror story" echoed by so many today. I have 8 qualifying conditions and it took two years for a hearing in 2018. Congresswoman Eshoo intervened and prevented my homelessness. This has occurred with SSA knowledge for over two decades, and, without congressional intervention.

The shortage of administrative law judges must be fixed in order to stop the continual two-year backlog of disability appeals. Since all applicants are denied instantly, its destroyed both the SSD system and our economy. 27.3% of all SSA employees were eligible to retire in 2017, below the 31.6% average across all government, per the GAO. 

Please help a million honest Americans each year who cannot work and have paid into disability their entire career. We must end this "disability impossibility" so future generations don't assume it's an acceptable part of being disabled.

Click here to ask your Senator to help.

Click here to ask your House member to help.