This Letter from Congresswoman Boyda and Congressman Moore appeared in the Kansas City Star March 29, 2008.

To the Kansas City Star:

We read with grave concern the Kansas City Star’s Saturday article on the severe disability case backlog now plaguing the Social Security Administration (SSA).  This is an issue that has troubled us since last year, when we were made aware of just how bad the disability backlog is for Kansas residents.

Fifteen thousand Kansans are awaiting a court hearing to determine their eligibility for disability benefits.  Many of those 15,000 have suffered severe injuries or illnesses.  Many are enduring a terminal disease or debilitating pain.  At this time, when they are  most vulnerable, they cannot afford bureaucratic delays.

Regrettably, these delays are the rule rather than the exception.  In Kansas, the average Social Security disability appeal has stretched to 21 months – the longest delay in the nation.  It is intolerable that anyone must wait nearly two years, unable to work and suffering financial ruin, before receiving the benefits they deserve.

We met with Social Security Commissioner Astrue last October, asking that his agency permanently suspend a pilot program to close Social Security field offices’ one day a week in Kansas.  Commissioner Astrue listened to our concerns and later agreed to shelve the pilot program after Congress provided increased funding for SSA, a vital part of strengthening and improving current services.

Today’s backlog crisis has many roots, however.  Among the most significant is the short-staffing of the Social Security Administration.  Two decades ago, SSA employed more than 80,000 staffers to process benefit applications.  Now, that number has fallen to 60,000, even as the rate of applications has risen sharply.

And, in the midst of this historic staffing shortage, the SSA has continually failed to appropriately respond.  For six years, SSA has submitted their annual funding request only to the president – not to Congress, as they are legally authorized to do.  Without this information, Congress cannot know the full scope of the backlog problem, or other issues facing SSA, and we cannot hope to find a solution.

As members of the House, we have sponsored legislation to require SSA to submit their funding request directly to Congress each year.  Once the legislative branch finally knows how much funding is required to eliminate the backlogs, Congress can at last respond with the resources necessary to ensure disability beneficiaries receive the support they need in a timely and efficient manner.  Kansans and all Americans deserve nothing less.

Sincerely,
Dennis Moore and Nancy Boyda, Members of Congress