Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 23, 1993 TAG: 9311230259
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The General Accounting Office, in a report released this month, found that the Social Security Administration and state agencies that determine eligibility for disability services have not been able to keep up with the great number of claims submitted for benefits. The benefits include those under Social Security's Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income programs.
From fiscal year 1990 to fiscal year 1992, processing times increased nearly 50 percent, the GAO reported. Delays have carried over into the current fiscal year, the GAO found.
But Social Security administrators in Roanoke defend their offices as sufficiently managing claim increases without major backlogs or delays.
"Our policy is that we need to serve the public," said Mary Stone, human service director for the Roanoke office of the state Disability Determination Service, which contracts with the Social Security Administration office in Roanoke to determine whether applicants are medically qualified for disability benefits.
Fred Ayscue, district manager of the Social Security office in Roanoke, said the office saw a 20 percent increase in disability claims during the 1990-91 fiscal year and an 18 percent increase during the 1991-92 year.
During the 1992-93 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, the increase dropped significantly - 4.5 percent, he said.
"We're hoping it's leveled off some," Ayscue said. "At the rate it was going, we were struggling to keep up with them. It caused some backlogs, but we were able to keep up with them fairly well."
Some states have taken more than five months to process a claim, the GAO reported.
In Virginia, the normal processing time has been 35 days, Stone said.
"We have not had the backlogs they've had in other states," she said. "We have been able to keep up with our current caseload. Some of the other states have thousands of cases they're unable to keep up with."
The GAO was asked by the Senate Committee on Finance to assess the operating conditions at state agencies and actions planned by the Social Security Administration to reduce the number of pending claims.
Why the increase in claims?
"One is the economy," Ayscue said. "The second is baby boomers, who are now reaching the age where they are more susceptible to disabilities."
Memo: NOTE: Slighly different, shorter version ran in New River Valley.