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Castor Calls for Review of Tampa Social Security Disability Claims Office

Social Security | Disability Claims | Social Services

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor said the lengthy delays in deciding on disability claims delays benefits that “can sometimes mean life or death.”

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, has asked the Social Security Administration to investigate and remedy the “serious delays” in processing disability claims in the department’s Tampa office.

Castor made her request Tuesday (Feb. 6) in a letter to SSA Acting Commissioner, Nancy Berryhill. In the letter, Castor highlighted some delays people experienced when dealing with the Tampa Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. Those delays include an average waiting time of 20.5 months to get a hearing and an average processing time of 653 days for each case. Castor said the Tampa ODAR only approves 44 percent of the disability requests that come before it. Of the remaining cases, 22 percent are dismissed and 34 percent are denied.

Kathy Castor | U.S. House | District 14
Kathy Castor

“I am very concerned with the very serious delays in processing disability claims of the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review in Tampa, Florida, and respectfully request a plan action from the Social Security Administration to address the matter as soon as possible,” Castor wrote. “Based on the information I have received and the need for constituents to receive benefits that can sometimes mean life or death, I respectfully request a prompt review of the Tampa ODAR based on a plan of action consistent with your policies and procedures.”

Social Security benefits belong to our neighbors and families, and barriers to access must be removed, Castor said.

Since early in her tenure in Congress, Castor said she has worked to reduce the Social Security benefit backlog. In 2008, she introduced the Timely Due Process for the Disabled Act to cut down the wait time for an appeal and successfully urged SSA to hire additional administrative law judges and support staff.

Castor represents Florida’s 14th Congressional District, which includes a portion of Hillsborough County.

Read U.S. Rep. Castor’s letter here.

For information about Castor, go to castor.house.gov.

Kathy Castor | Social Security | Disability Benefits | Disability | Tampabay News

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