Tucson Social Security Disability Blog

Grinding To A Halt

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I have run through every excuse I can trying to explain the inexcusable delays for people waiting to get their Social Security disability approved. For years, I assured people that Social Security was going to make improvements that would allow for faster processing of claims. I explained it was due to budget cuts or staff shortages or even just demographics. But, I give up. The waiting time at the Tucson hearing office has gone past 18 months. It was not that long ago that Social Security had that down to as little as 5 months. I fear that the wait times are going to get worse. At a hearing yesterday, I spoke to one of our judges about the delays. He told me something extraordinary: Social Security is putting pressure on their judges to produce fewer decisions. At a time when the delays are already unconscionable, Social Security wants its judges to slow down. The supposed reason for putting on the brakes is so the judges can produce more high quality opinions.

What does that mean? At the same time, the Appeals Council is sending more decisions back to judges for additional hearings. These remands are based on ever-more flimsy reasons, such as minor technical problems that do not even reach the merits of the case. News like this really makes me wonder.

Why is Social Security slowing down the hearing process when they are already hopelessly behind? I know this sounds paranoid, but is Social Security trying to make the process so unworkable that people simply give up? Are they trying to force lawyers out of the business by making it too hard to earn a living? Most likely, Social Security is simply bumbling along in the dark, making matters worse with every move they make. I don’t think anyone there has the brains nor the ambition required to mount a conspiracy. In the meantime, people are losing their houses or even dying while they wait. 

US News Story On Disability Hearings Delays

Surely This Cannot Go Slower

Hearing scheduled? Call Today.

If Social Security has scheduled your disability case to be heard by one of their judges, call me immediately. Unlike many large law firms, I can move quickly to get your case ready to be won.

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About The Author

Since 1992, I have been helping the people of Southern Arizona get the benefits they are due. Before devoting all my efforts to assisting people with Social Security disability claims, I also handled such complex lawsuits as medical malpractice and products liability. I brought to my Social Security cases all the skills and attention to detail that I developed in the courtroom. I approach each Social Security disability case as if it were a million-dollar lawsuit. For the people trying to get Social Security benefits, their claim is every bit as important. Because I have personally handled so many Social Security cases, I have refined the skills I need to win your case for you. I have helped people win cases for every kind of ailment from arthritis to valley fever. At present, I am focused on helping those persons with neurological and orthopedic disorders. Because claims for people over age fifty bring additional complications, I particularly seek out those cases to work on. I regularly write about back and spine conditions on my blog. I actively seek out the latest information about orthopedic and neurological disorders to ensure I can represent my clients as effectively as possible. Because of my current focus, I regret that I am not able to take any cases for mental disorders. If you are over age fifty and suffer from any orthopedic or neurological disorder, please contact me at once.