Social Security has long been celebrated as one of the most successful and effective government programs ever implemented. It keeps millions of seniors and disabled Americans out of poverty and provides a safety net for millions of workers.  However, due to significant under-funding by a Republican-led Congress bent on privatizing the program, the Social Security Administration has been crippled. From 1998 to 2007 the Social Security Administration received $4.6 billion less than the Commissioner requested. Lack of adequate funding has meant poor service to our seniors and disabled Americans, growing waiting lists to process disability appeals, a greater incidence of administrative errors, not to mention staff lay-offs and plummeting morale within SSA.

It is disgraceful that Atlanta has the longest list of backlogged disability appeals in the country and one of the longest wait times for appeals. Nationwide there are 1.3 million Americans waiting for decisions on their applications for disability benefits. The average processing time in Atlanta North is the worst in the country at 828 days, and in Atlanta proper it is 750 days. People are waiting years for benefits they deserve, some are even dying while waiting. This is simply wrong.

Reducing the backlog in Social Security Disability claims is one of Congressman Lewis’ top priorities.  Somehow the richest, most powerful nation in the world must find a way to meet the needs of these Americans. They have suffered enough. They should not suffer at the hands of their government.

Congressman Lewis has acted on this concern.  He testified before the Budget Committee on the problems in the 5th Congressional District and demanded increased funding for the Social Security Administration (SSA), so that they can hire more staff to adjudicate these cases and get desperately needed benefits into the hands of those who deserve them. 

Congressman Lewis has been working with the Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, the Budget Committee, and the Appropriations Committee to address the funding issues and feels confident that funds will continue to increase for the SSA.  With the new dollars that the Democratic-led Congress appropriated last year, SSA has begun to respond to Congressman Lewis’ demand for action by hiring new Administrative Law Judges, but the Social Security Administration still needs to do more.

We must address these problems with Social Security because the burdens on the Administration will only get worse. As the Baby Boomers retire between 2010 and 2030, the number of people age 65 and older is projected to increase by 75% while the number of workers supporting the system is projected to increase by a mere 8%. As the baby boomers increasingly begin to apply for Social Security benefits, this under-funded agency will meet further complications in responding to the demand.

Congressman Lewis will continue to fight for a robust Social Security system that will be able to deliver people the benefits they deserve for generations to come.