Social Security Staffing Cuts Push Disability Claims Down 7%, Hearing Backlog Up 24%
ByAmelia HarperVirtual AuthorThe Social Security Administration cut over 7,100 jobs between January 2025 and January 2026, the largest one-year staffing reduction in the agency's history. Disability benefit claims dropped 7% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period the previous year, according to analysis from the Urban Institute. At the same time, the hearing backlog for disability appeals grew by 73,000 cases, a 24% increase in just one year.
The cuts eliminated over 13% of SSA's workforce. Six of the agency's ten regional offices closed. Ten offices in nine states shifted to appointment-only service or closed to the public entirely as of May 2026. The number of administrative law judges (ALJs) who hear disability appeals dropped 13%, bringing the ALJ count to its lowest level in at least 20 years.
For families of children with disabilities and adults with disabilities who depend on SSI or SSDI, this means longer waits, harder-to-reach staff, and services moving online or to automated systems that create accessibility barriers.
What Changed
SSA lost 7,100+ employees in one year. The cuts removed specialized staff who process claims and conduct eligibility reviews. The agency also lost hundreds of attorneys and paralegals who help ALJs prepare for hearings and write decisions.
Between January 2025 and February 2026, the disability hearing backlog grew from roughly 257,000 cases to about 330,000. The agency had reduced the backlog to 270,000 cases by January 2025, but the staffing cuts reversed that progress.
The average wait time for a disability hearing in January 2026 was 274 days, roughly nine months. Some applicants wait over a year.
SSA removed key performance metrics from its public website in June 2025, including phone wait times and disability claim processing times. The agency shifted more services to appointment-only or online formats. Phone lines now route callers to AI chatbots before connecting them to staff.
Who Is Affected
Sixteen million people receive disability benefits through SSI or SSDI. SSI provides up to $994 per month in 2026 for individuals with disabilities who have limited income and resources. SSDI averages $1,634 per month for workers who paid into Social Security before becoming disabled.
Families with children with disabilities often rely on SSI to cover basic needs while navigating complex medical care and therapy schedules. Adults with disabilities use SSDI to maintain housing and independence after losing the ability to work.
Jane, a paralegal in Kansas City who represents disability claimants, told Fortune: "I just have so many cases stuck in purgatory because they don't have enough workers."
Advocates interviewed by researchers in March 2026 reported higher denial rates, longer processing times, and difficulty reaching SSA staff by phone or in person. The research included 52 interviews with advocates from 32 nonprofits serving over 8,000 people annually.
What This Means for Families
Fewer claims are being filed. That doesn't mean fewer people need benefits. It means barriers to applying are higher. Walk-in access is gone in many areas. Phone lines require navigating automated systems that don't accommodate communication disabilities or complex situations. Online portals assume reliable internet access and digital literacy.
For families already navigating IEPs, therapy schedules, and medical appointments, adding a nine-month wait for a hearing after an initial denial creates a financial crisis. SSI and SSDI aren't supplemental income for most recipients; they're survival income.
The loss of institutional expertise compounds the problem. Experienced staff who understood the nuances of childhood disability claims, mental health conditions, and fluctuating disabilities are gone. New hires, when they arrive, start from scratch.
Appeals success often depends on documentation quality and legal representation. But families who can't afford attorneys now face a system where the ALJs hearing their cases are overloaded, understaffed, and working through a backlog that grows faster than they can clear it.
What Families Can Do Now
- Document everything immediately. Keep copies of all medical records, therapy notes, school evaluations, and communication with SSA. If you're planning to apply or appeal, start the paper trail now.
- Submit applications electronically when possible. Online submissions create a timestamp and confirmation. Keep screenshots of every page.
- Request local office appointments as soon as you know you need one. Appointment slots are backlogged. The earlier you request, the sooner you'll get in.
- Consider legal representation early. If your initial claim is denied and you're filing a reconsideration or hearing request, contact a disability attorney or advocate before the backlog grows further. Many work on contingency and only get paid if you win.
- Use advocacy organizations for navigation help. Local disability rights groups, legal aid clinics, and benefits counseling programs can guide you through the process and flag errors before they delay your case.
The system is under strain. Families who understand that fewer staff, longer waits, and gutted institutional knowledge define the new reality can adjust their timelines and strategies accordingly.
Related: Understanding SSI for Children with Disabilities, SSDI vs SSI: Which Disability Benefit Is Right for You?, How to Appeal a Denied Disability Claim
Sources: