Claimants Die While Awaiting ALJ Hearings
As SSA's hearing-level processing time hits a new all-time high every month, some claimants are unable to survive until their hearing dates. NOSSCR requested information from SSA about the number of claimants who die while their hearing requests are pending. The agency's response was that 7,897 such claimants died between September 26, 2016 (the last work day of Fiscal Year 2015) and September 1, 2016. This is approximately 23 claimants a day, or nearly one an hour. Accordi