More than 1 million Americans have pending decisions for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits. Downsizing the federal workforce will make it harder to receive approval, meaning even longer wait times to receive benefits.
On-time Social Security payments allow beneficiaries to pay bills, buy groceries, and stay out of poverty.
But the SSA has a backlog of claims on track to exceed 2 million beneficiaries, even if current staffing levels remain flat. On average, applicants for SSDI and SSI disability benefits wait seven months for an initial eligibility determination.
During a period of government-wide downsizing, losing administrative staff at the SSA will degrade service, leading to delays, long wait times, and a likely increase in poverty among older adults and people with disabilities.
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