Because of President Trump’s proposed federal hiring freeze, the backlog for appeals for Social Security Disability will take even longer; an average case can take more than a year. Appeal cases occur when an individual applying for disability has been intially denied.
These cases are heard before an administrative law judge, called an ALJ. This can have a very significant effect on those suffering from serious disabilities resulting in inability to perform their work duties because of a variety of factors such as difficulty walking, using their arms or hands, ongoing pain in their back or other areas.
Many judges have been working overtime trying to resolve outstanding cases, but the task is daunting.