Indianapolis is DEAD LAST!

Yup, that’s right.

When it comes to processing and holding hearings on the denied claims of individuals for disability benefits, Indianapolis ranks dead last. And offices responsible for handling denied claims for individuals in Northwest Indiana rank among the most backlogged in the nation.

For example, the Fort Wayne office handles claims for individuals from Laporte County to Allen County. They rank 130th of 147 in the country with an average processing time of 711 days.

Orland Park ranks 131st with a processing time of 714 days.

And Indianapolis ranks 147th--or last in the country---with a processing time of 896 days! They would handle claims for Pulaski County south.


Most claimants are waiting at least 18 months, and up to and beyond 2 years to wait for a hearing on the denials of their claims. Both of the local SS offices and hearing offices for northern Indiana are understaffed and cannot handle the number of applications or appeals.
Providing SSA with adequate funding is a critical factor in reducing and eventually eliminating the disability claims backlog, and improving other services provided by the agency is an absolute must.

Knowing this Bush administration as we all do, we know darned well they’ll want to short change the SSA. Heck, they never wanted Social Security to begin with, and they’re still trying to make it fail.

Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL), who represents the Tampa, Florida area, has introduced the “Timely Due Process for the Disabled Act of 2008,” H.R. 6485. Tampa has one of the longest processing times, an average of 648 days through the end of June 2008. The bill requires that a hearing decision will be issued within 90 days after filing the request for hearing and includes the following:

• The claimant will receive notice of a hearing date within 5 business days after the request for hearing is filed.

• The hearing will be held within 75 days after the request for hearing is filed.

• The decision will be issued within 15 business days after the hearing.

It’s not likely that this bill will move at all during this session of Congress. Information about the bill and the bill language can be obtained on www.thomas.gov.

The Social Security system in the U.S. needs additional funding in order to take care of the backlog of disability claims and the additional work load from the Medicare part D fiasco........They are under-staffed with staffing level being the lowest since 1972, and with 80 million baby boomers about to retire, Social Security faces more than just significant challenges.

Please call your U.S. Representative and Senators and urge them to pass an appropriations bill that will provide timely services to seniors, those with disabilities and others who rely on Social Security.