WHY IS SOCIAL SECURITY SO SLOW IN PAYING NEW CLAIMS?

You went before a judge for a hearing. That was 8 weeks ago but you still haven't received a notice of the decision and certainly not a paycheck.  What's taking so long?

First, remember that Social Security is a huge national agency that deals with millions of persons.  Your local hearing office probably has between 3,500 and 5,000 applicants trying to get benefits.  

After your hearing is completed, the judge will take some time to review all the facts in the case and make a decision.  But you don't get the decision as soon as the judge makes it.

Decisions are legal documents and must be prepared carefully.  When the judge decides your case, it goes to a decision writer to be properly written.  Since the writer is working on many cases at the same time, yours will wait on older decisions to be written up.  After your decision is finally written, it goes back to the judge for proofing.  If corrections or changes are needed, the decision goes back to the writer.  When the decision meets the approval of the judge, he or she will sign it and it is sent out to you.  This process can take 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the office and how busy it is.

Next, your case moves to a payment processing center.  This may be in Baltimore (Social Security headquarters) or another city. For example, there is a payment processing unit in Birmingham. This office, also, is very busy.  Someone must check the decision, calculate how much money is due and set the process of payment into motion.  A number of details must be verified.  Payment processing usually takes at least 30 days and can take up to 90 days from the date of your decision.

If you are signed up for direct deposit, your benefit will be deposited into your bank account.  If not, the back pay may be sent by mail as a paper check.  However, Social Security will not make monthly benefit payments by mail.  They require either direct deposit or use of a debit card.

At the end of a hearing, many judges will say something like this:  "We'll get this out to you as soon as we can.  However, we are the government, so please be patient."