How SSA Staff Cuts Could Affect SSI/SSDI Wait Times
The Social Security Administration (SSA), already at a 50-year staffing low, recently announced it is planning layoffs that could directly impact the roughly 70 million Americans who rely on Social Security payments, including those receiving—and applying for—disability (SSDI) and low-income (SSI) benefits. Expected impacts could include longer waits to qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits and for assistance on customer service issues. With applicants already waiting a year or more in some cases to receive approval, and insiders saying a workforce reduction at SSA could extend SSDI wait times even more, you should file a claim sooner rather than later if you’re thinking about applying for benefits. Submitting an application now will “save your spot in line” and give the Social Security disability attorneys at Graham Law time to figure out a possible way to speed up your claim.
Workforce Reduction Could Be as High as 50 Percent
SSA stated it plans to cut roughly 7,000 jobs, reducing its staff from around 57,000 to a target of 50,000 employees—a 12.2% staff reduction. The layoffs are part of a Trump administration initiative to reduce the size of the federal workforce through the Department of Government Efficiency. A 50% staff reduction is on the table, reports the Associated Press. SSA denies this claim, but some say the agency is downplaying cuts to avoid bad publicity.
“The agency plans to reduce the size of its bloated workforce and organizational structure, with a significant focus on functions and employees who do not directly provide mission critical services.”
The agency also plans the closure of Social Security offices across the country, including the Columbus, Ohio office location, which will be moved to a federal building. Social Security has a Zanesville, Ohio office where individuals can apply for SSI and SSDI benefits and receive in-person assistance. Anyone dealing with SSA has the right to attorney representation.
What SSA Cuts Could Mean for SSI and SSDI Wait Times and Benefits
Former SSA commissioner Martin O’Malley said the cuts could lead to a “system collapse” and the interruption of benefit payments. Critics also argue that reduced staffing and office closures could result in longer wait times for disability benefit determinations. They’re warning that wait lists could swell to two million people or more and applicants might have to wait years to receive benefits. Under O’Malley, reducing disability processing times was one of SSA’s top customer service priorities. The average processing time for initial applications has increased to record levels in recent years, and further cuts could exacerbate the issue. A current SSA employee told CBS News the agency is still working on applications from 2023 and that a significant workforce reduction could mean “easily the wait times will be extended by one year.” The average wait time from submission to decision at each stage of the SSDI application process is:
- 225 days for an initial decision
- 183 days for reconsideration (Appeal 1)
- 372 days for a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (Appeal 2)
- 264 days for an Appeals Council hearing (Appeal 3)
Persistence is key with a disability benefits application. Only about 38% of initial applications are approved. That number falls to 13% at the reconsideration stage, but more than half of ALJ appeals are approved. As of January 2025, hearing wait times in Ohio are 7 months in Akron and Columbus, 7.5 months in Cincinnati, 6.5 months in Cleveland, 6 months in Toledo, and 9 months in Dayton. While the ALJ stage has the highest rate of acceptance, getting to this point takes an average of 2 years, 1 month, and 13 days from the time of the initial application. Waiting this long can cause significant financial and physical hardship for applicants. Each year, thousands of people file for bankruptcy and die while awaiting a decision.
30,000 people died in 2023 while awaiting a decision on their disability applications, according to former SSA head O’Malley.
Prior Social Security workforce cuts during the Reagan administration resulted in a reduction in enrollment for SSI, a February 2025 research paper shows. If a similar scenario plays out due to Trump administration staff reduction efforts, the result will be “an effective benefit cut to Social Security, with many thousands of people struggling to survive in the name of ‘government efficiency,’” one expert writes. Social Security turns 90 in 2025. A survey released to mark the anniversary found that 85% of Americans want to either maintain current Social Security benefits or increase them, even it requires raising taxes. The overwhelming majority of Americans (90%) say SSDI would be important to their income if they experienced a work-limiting disability. There is also widespread support for reforming SSI asset limits and income rules.
Submit Your Application ASAP to Avoid Additional Delays
Social Security has never missed a payment in the program’s long history, making it unlikely that we’ll see a “collapse” of the system anytime soon. To be on the safe side, though, beneficiaries might want to take O’Malley’s advice and “start saving now” ahead of any interruption in benefits. The advice of Graham Law attorneys to those eligible for SSDI or SSI benefits is: apply now to allow for potential processing delays. The sooner you apply, the sooner your application will be reviewed, and the sooner we can determine whether your claim can be expedited. In certain situations, such as terminal illnesses or dire financial circumstances, SSDI cases may qualify for expedited processing. You can also request an “on-the-record” decision or an attorney advisor opinion prior to a hearing, which may avoid the need for a formal hearing and speed up the approval process. From initial applications to expedited processing for “critical” cases to appeals at every level, Graham Law is here to help you get the benefits you need, as quickly as possible. Start the claims process today: contact us for a free case review.