Home Media Center News Releases

Washington, D.C. — With the Social Security Administration (SSA) facing increases in disability insurance applications from the American public, the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) joined a coalition of stakeholder organizations in letters to congressional leaders asking that sufficient funding be provided to the agency.

“Increasing the backlog of disability hearings and delaying disability insurance payments at SSA creates frustration among citizens and can increase the burden on families already struggling economically,” NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley said upon the union signing onto the coalition letter. “NTEU members working at SSA help process claims for Social Security Disability Insurance. From them, we know the staffing is woefully insufficient to get people their disability insurance payments they deserve in a timely and accurate manner.”

The coalition letter asked that SSA fiscal year (FY) 2011 appropriations levels meet President Obama’s budget request of $12.379 billion. That level of funding was also recommended by the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee and the full Senate Appropriations Committee.

The coalition noted that the funding is absolutely critical as SSA teleservice centers, hearing offices, Disability Determination Services (DDSs), and the nearly 1,300 field offices are in need of adequate resources to address their growing workloads.

For example, SSA has a backlog of nearly 1.5 million full medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDRs). According to SSA, every $1 spent on CDRs yields at least $10 in program savings. If these CDRs are conducted, the long-term program savings would be $15 billion.

However, failure to conduct these reviews has adverse consequences for both the federal budget and the deficit. Unfortunately, current estimates project that SSA will only be able to work 360,000 medical CDRs in FY 2011, meaning no reduction in the CDR backlog.

“By providing SSA with the necessary resources, the agency will reduce the hearings backlog and also protect many Americans from unnecessary financial hardship. We are confident that this increased investment in SSA will benefit our entire nation,” the coalition wrote.

The coalition of 39 organizations sent letters to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), Senate Appropriations Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), House Appropriations Chairman David R. Obey (D-Wis.), House Appropriation Ranking Member Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.), and House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Ranking Member Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.).

As the largest independent federal union, NTEU represents 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments, including SSA’s Office of Disability Adjudication and Review.