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70th Anniversary of the Social Security Disability Insurance Program

Date:

Dear Colleague,

On August 1, 2026, we will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. Since its enactment in 1956, SSDI has provided critical financial support to millions of Americans with disabilities. Your partnership has been central to helping individuals access these vital benefits.

Today, more than eight million Americans rely on SSDI, reflecting its importance to individuals, families, and communities nationwide. In FY 2025 alone, more than 2.1 million people sought help from our disability programs, underscoring the essential role they play.

Over the past year, we have made significant improvements across the disability process, including:

  • Reduced wait times at the initial determination level, with decisions now arriving 40 days faster than in January 2025
  • Achieved historic lows in hearings wait times, supported by virtual service channels representing over 90 percent of customer hearings
  • Increased productivity, with disability examiners clearing 13 percent more cases per week and Administrative Law Judges completing nearly 20 percent more cases per day
  • Expedited decisions through Disability Examiner Decisional Authority (DEDA), resulting in over 150,000 expedited cases since 2025

These improvements reflect our commitment to providing timely, fair, and responsive service for the people we serve.

We are also continuing to modernize our operations through a digital first approach. Recent enhancements to my Social Security have expanded self-service options for individuals navigating the disability claims and appeals process. Earlier this year, we surpassed 100 million my Social Security accounts, a milestone that highlights the public’s growing confidence in our digital services.

As we commemorate this anniversary, we extend our sincere appreciation for your ongoing partnership and advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities. We look forward to continuing our work together to strengthen and expand access to these essential programs.

Please watch a short video message: https://youtu.be/Ag1rQfk3ni0

Sincerely,

Jay M. Ortis
Chief
Disability Adjudication