Source: Social Security News: The Depressing State Of Hearing Backlogs At Social Security
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Shows the terrible backlog for getting a social security disability hearing. This is the time from request to hearing to the hearing date. From application date to hearing is over 2 years. People die while they are waiting for a hearing.
Why does it take so long for most cases to reach completion?
Is it the lawyer who is so slow?
Why can’t I just get an answer within a month or two and get on with my life?
First of all, a government agency runs the Social Security System. It usually takes approximately 6 months at each level and 12 months to get a hearing. This means that it can take over 2 years to get a hearing and then another month or two to receive a written decision from the Judge.
The reason for this is that there are thousands of cases filed all over the country each month. There are not enough workers to process the cases.
There are also thousands of cases at each hearing center. There are only a handful of judges at each hearing site. This slows down the process.
The Social Security Administration schedules all the hearings. Your lawyer cannot call up and schedule a hearing for you. This is different than many cases where the lawyer has some control over scheduling of trials and hearings. Your lawyer is at the mercy of Social Security in scheduling your hearing.
Illinois Workers’ Compensation cases can only move forward when your medical treatment is completed. This often slows down your case if you are not healing properly or quickly, or need multiple surgeries.
Another thing that bogs down your Work Comp case is that it takes a long time to get your doctor’s deposition. A deposition is testimony of your doctor to support your case before a court reporter. Doctor’s are busy and her schedule and the schedules of your attorney and the insurance attorney must be arranged for the deposition.
Finally, the case must be set for trial. This takes several months to fit into the schedule of the Arbitrator ( the Judge for your Work Comp case).
Questions about your Social Security Disability case or Illinois Workers’ Compensation case? Feel free to contact Illinois Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.