Harrisburg Social Security Disability Office has long hearing wait, adds new Judges
I hear from every client their disbelief of the wait time to receive a hearing on their Social Security Disability appeal. It is frightening for folks who have no income or limited income and can’t function normally or work. However, it is also a reality. And, it is not just the Harrisburg Office of Adjudication and Review, which handles Social Security Disability appeals, that has the backlog wait time. It is a national problem.
Here are the current numbers. (As of July 2016)
| HEARING LOCATION | HEARING WAIT TIME |
| Elkins Park, PA | 20.0 Months |
| Harrisburg | 19.3 Months |
| Johnstown | 19 Months |
| Philadelphia | 20.5 Months |
| Philadelphia East | 20 Months |
| Pittsburgh | 21 Months |
| Seven Field, PA | 18 Months |
| Wilkes Barre | 16.5 Months |
| Pennsylvania State Average | 19.3 Months |
| Baltimore, MD | 21 Months |
| NHC Baltimore | 19 Months |
| Maryland State Average | 20 Months |
As you can see, the Harrisburg ODAR office is trending right near the Pennsylvania state average, but above the National average. There may be some relief in sight though. Harrisburg has recently added three new Administrative Law Judges, which should help reduce the wait time to around the National average. Bottom line is, even with new ALJ’s on the way, if you have been denied Social Security Disability and you appeal, you SHOULD NOT expect to have a hearing for at least 16 months. (more…)