SANDY, Utah -
Thousands of people are waiting to be approved for social security disability benefits nationwide. Here in Utah some people are losing their homes because the process is so back-logged. The social security administration is staffed to handle 500,000 disability claims a year. Right now there are more than 800,000 claims in the system. There has been a 20 percent increase in the number of people filing for disability from last year and they are attributing it directly to the economy.
"There are people that are thinking that this may be a way they can not lose their house," said Sam Larsen, Disability Advisors. "And so, when they get to us and we try to provide help to them, they're thinking... I've got three months before I'm going to lose my house, and we say, well, we'll work with you but the first part of the process takes on average 6 months and you are probably going to be denied."
Filing a claim for social security disability benefits is a three part process. First you have an initial hearing. That process can take five to six months and 60-percent of applicants will be denied. Next you go to what is called reconsideration, where 85-percent of applicants will be denied. The third and final step is a hearing with a judge where roughly 10-percent will be denied. The process from start to finish is taking on average 500 days. In that time some people in Utah are losing their homes.
"We deal with it every day," said Larsen. "People get very emotional on the phone when we tell them they've either been denied or just give them the time frame."
Those who don't lose their homes are still facing hardships, and are forced to be creative with every day activities while they wait for more than a year to see their benefits check.
"It got to the point where I would sit down at my computer to do my bills and I would have an anxiety attack and I would have to quit and go lay down," said Susan Lockhart, who waited more than a year for her approval.
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"There are people that are thinking that this may be a way they can not lose their house," said Sam Larsen, Disability Advisors. "And so, when they get to us and we try to provide help to them, they're thinking... I've got three months before I'm going to lose my house, and we say, well, we'll work with you but the first part of the process takes on average 6 months and you are probably going to be denied."
Filing a claim for social security disability benefits is a three part process. First you have an initial hearing. That process can take five to six months and 60-percent of applicants will be denied. Next you go to what is called reconsideration, where 85-percent of applicants will be denied. The third and final step is a hearing with a judge where roughly 10-percent will be denied. The process from start to finish is taking on average 500 days. In that time some people in Utah are losing their homes.
"We deal with it every day," said Larsen. "People get very emotional on the phone when we tell them they've either been denied or just give them the time frame."
Those who don't lose their homes are still facing hardships, and are forced to be creative with every day activities while they wait for more than a year to see their benefits check.
"It got to the point where I would sit down at my computer to do my bills and I would have an anxiety attack and I would have to quit and go lay down," said Susan Lockhart, who waited more than a year for her approval.
SEND US YOUR NEWS AND WEATHER PICTURES! Click Here to Visit Our Photo/Video Submission Page
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @fox13now
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