Obama and Social Security Benefits

Barack Obama stated that the Social Security approval process had to be streamlined when he was running for the presidency. The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) backlog of disability claims more than doubled under the Bush Administration, and a two to three year wait for a decision is not atypical. Barack Obama stated that it is unacceptable for individuals to lose their homes or declare bankruptcy because the SSA cannot process its claims quickly enough.

Barack Obama said that because the SSA has been consistently under-funded it has resulted in unconscionable delays in initial claims determinations and hearings for individuals applying for the Social Security Disability (“SSD”) and Social Security Supplement Security Income (“SSI”) benefits. Barack Obama pledged to streamline the SSA’s application and appeals procedures by ensuring the SSA has the funding to hire judges and staff and to invest in technology to expedite final decisions.

Barack Obama specifically referred to the interests of the disabled during his pre-inaugural speeches. Let’s hope he remembers this constituency and follows through on his campaign promise for increased funding.