Report: State Furloughs Add to Delivery Delays for Disability Benefits
State-mandated furloughs have delayed the delivery of federal disability benefits for thousands of Californians, according to a new report from the state Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes, Capitol Weekly reports.
The report examined the impact of furloughs on two Social Security Administration programs that serve people with long-term disabilities, as well as an unemployment insurance program.
Since the federal government provides funding for the services, the furloughs have failed to significantly reduce state spending on the programs, according to the report.
The report also found that California's furloughs have contributed to:
- Delivery delays for between $68 million and $99 million per year in federal disability benefits;
- Growing backlogs in applications for Social Security disability benefits; and
- Losses of about 27,000 hours of labor per month in state offices that administer the Social Security benefits.
The report also identified delays and backlogs in the unemployment insurance program (Capitol Weekly, 12/22).
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