Office of Inspector General Report Published

The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers disability programs according to Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act. These benefits are more commonly known as Social Security Disability (SSD) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). To receive benefits under either program, an application must first be filed with SSA. After ensuring the applicants meet the non-disability criteria for benefits, the SSA forwards each case to the relevant Disability Determination Services (DDS) office. Using medical evidence, the DDS decides whether or not an applicant is disabled under the law.

There are government-funded DDSs in each of the 50 states, as well as in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The Office of Disability Adjudication oversees DDS operations through its Office of Disability Determinations. This means DDS employees are not SSA employees. While the SSA provides the funding to cover DDS costs such as staff salaries and office expenses, individual states provide DDSs with the personnel to make disability determinations.

To determine the extent to which staffing, productivity, and processing times at DDS changed from Fiscal Years 2019-2023, the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has concluded its review in an official report. The report stated that DDS lost a number of technical staff responsible for developing medical evidence and making case determinations. This shift coincided with a 15-percent reduction in disability determinations and an 81-percent increase in processing times.

Together, SSA and DDS have attempted to work within budget constraints to develop initiatives that offer workload assistance, streamline procedures, and create a recruitment and retention workgroup to share best practices across all DDSs. Despite these efforts, DDSs failed to secure the volume of staff needed to prevent reduced productivity and increased processing times. In conclusion, the OIG has made five separate recommendations that the SSA has agreed with, which include incorporating artificial intelligence into certain portions of case assessment.

After reviewing the report, Schaffer & Associates attorney Laura Wilson stated she is not optimistic that current or planned efforts will show a rapid improvement in operations, if any. In fact, she fears processing times, among other areas of issue, are likely to get worse before they get better. Remarkably, the aforementioned audit reflected that Ohio has one of the top five fastest processing times for initial disability claims, coming in at 136.8 days.

If you’re in need of help with a Social Security Disability application, or if your initial application was denied, contact our office today for a free consultation with Laura Wilson. Our firm is knowledgeable about the application and appeals processes, and will work to keep your case moving through the system as quickly and efficiently as possible.