Recession Deepens Social Security Disability Backlog

A new study from Allsup shows that as the country's economic recession continues and more people find themselves unemployed for extended periods, Social Security Disability claims are up. But the length of time disabled people must wait for their benefits has increased.

Among the findings of the Allsup Disability Study: Income at Risk:

• For the second quarter of 2009, people with disabilities experienced an unemployment rate 53 percent higher than people without disabilities, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
• In June,  three in 10 of the unemployed had been jobless for 27 weeks or more, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistic.
• Disability applications rose to more than 727,000 in the second quarter of 2009, up 7 percent from the first quarter. Year to date there has been a 22-percent jump in initial disability applications compared to the same period in 2008.

An increase in the number of applications for Social Security Disability benefits impacts the Social Security Administration's ability to process those claims, delaying the assignment of benefits. Most claimants wait an average of 2 1/2 years for their Social Security benefits, but for some the backlog can stretch the wait to four years.

That's why it's so important to apply for benefits as soon as you become disabled. It's customary to be denied benefits initially, and it's often that point that  people seek a qualified and experienced Social Security Disability attorney to help with their claim.