Noteboom The Law Firm

SSA Needs More Employees Now

These days, seeing a company downsize significantly is not surprising at all. In fact, many companies implemented a hiring freeze long ago because their business has slowed down so much that they need few employees. The SSA has begun to follow suit, even furloughing workers in some states.

Unfortunately, the SSA's business has increased substantially over the last year, which makes having fewer employees a bad move on their part. In fact, as available job positions decrease all over the country and the unemployment rate increases, more people will turn to the SSA for programs like Social Security disability. In turn, the SSA will need to increase their workforce.

Their resistance to hiring more employees has created unacceptable waiting periods, with the national wait time over a year. The recently implemented furloughs at some branches have frustrated applicants who feel they have already waited too long to get a decision.

The good news is that the SSA has finally recognized that they need to increase their workforce rather than reduce it. Soaring unemployment numbers signify that the slow economy will likely continue into the new year, which means the SSA should prepare for another possible influx of applications.

Some of the states that have been hit particularly hard, such as California, Ohio, and Wisconsin, will likely get more hearings offices and additional employees soon. However, it takes time to train new employees, so SSA officials have advised that people not expect an immediate decrease in wait times.

Approximately 12 million people received disability benefits in 2009, and 2010 will likely bring in more than 3 million more recipients. Clearly, a reduction in the SSA workforce is not a good idea, unless Americans are okay with waiting a few years to start getting benefits. Though there will likely be little impact for several months, if not years, the SSA's newfound commitment to increasing the number of employees is definitely good news.

If you or your loved one are suffering from a severe physical or mental disability, you should contact a Social Security Disability lawyer immediately to learn about your rights and determine eligibility. The process of securing Social Security Disability Insurance benefits and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can be difficult and overwhelming. Don't go it alone! The disability lawyers at LaVan & Neidenberg, located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL understand the inner workings of the Social Security Administration and will help you navigate the system. Call us today for a FREE legal consultation - 1-888-234-5758.