The recession is causing a big jump in Social Security Disability filings.
Many states are seeing the already long waits for a case to be decided to be increased even more.
The Commissioner of Social Security is predicting the problem will get worse, and is blaming some of the judges for not deciding enough cases.
So far in Central Illinois, this has been a good year for case backlogs. The Peoria Hearing Office has really moved hearings through the pipeline. Some cases are getting to hearing in less than 18 months.
This is probably due to stable filing levels, as I blogged in an earlier post, Illinois has not seen a dramatic jump in disability filings.
It also the result of increased hiring, and an efficient office.