Despite processing improvements, ODAR receipts increased at a rate 5 percent higher than anticipated and the agency ended the year with 760,813 pending requests, which is an increase of 14,069 cases over fiscal 2007.
The backlog has been growing at a rate of 70,000 cases per year for some time. However, ODAR noted that because more applications of Social Security benefits are filed in times of high unemployment the backlog looks to be back on the upswing.
The agency said it would continue to study and monitor case receipts and may amend its budgeted receipt projections at least through 2013, but praised ODAR managers, ALJs and administrative appeals judges with carrying out business process improvements it hopes will eliminate the backlog by 2013.
For example, an attorney adjudicator initiative established in March 2008 provides certain attorney advisors the authority to make fully favorable decisions on cases. It takes advantage of the experience of ODAR’s senior attorney advisors to expedite decisions, and reserves precious ALJ resources for conducting hearings on more complex cases.
ODAR said the initiative was expanded to permit the use of interrogatories to be completed by a vocational expert if the vocational evidence could be obtained quickly and was expected to result in a fully favorable decision.
