The disability claims backlog at the Social Security Administration (SSA) grew by about 58,000 between its late June update and 30 September. A month later, SSA chief Frank Bisignano emailed account holders. Copies online show he described fiscal 2026 as the agency's best in 91 years. The SSA also changed its comparison point between releases.
Bisignano's email, sent on 30 and 31 October, credited President Donald Trump days before Tuesday's midterm vote. The SSA says the backlog is still lower than in 2024, though its dashboard shows it higher than a year ago. Each claim is a person waiting for an answer.
