SSD Wait Times Increase

This pandemic has taken a toll on so many people, but none so much as the disabled.   We have always told our clients, whether we are applying for Social Security Disability ("SSD") benefits or Supplemental Security Insurance ("SSI") benefits, that the wait time from the initial application to the initial decision can easily take half a year.  Last year, there was a significant decrease in the number of people applying for SSD or SSI benefits; due in large part to the fact that the local Social Security offices have been closed to the public since March 2020, due to Covid.  Many people who would have gone into a local Social Security office to file an application have yet to file, even though they are in dire need of benefits.  That is why it is so tragic that there are close to one million people waiting for a decision for their initial application or reconsideration.