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Saxony-Anhalt Slashes Wait Times for Disability Applications
🇩🇪 Germany /Crime & Justice

Saxony-Anhalt Slashes Wait Times for Disability Applications

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Saxony-Anhalt has reduced the processing time for disability applications by one-third since January.
  • The average waiting period has decreased from over nine months to about six months.
  • Improvements are attributed to hiring more external medical experts and streamlining procedures, including a new state office for social affairs.

Saxony-Anhalt is significantly speeding up the processing of applications for severe disability status. Social Minister Petra Grimm-Benne announced on July 11 that the average processing time has been cut by a third since the beginning of the year.

Previously, applicants waited more than nine months on average. Now, the waiting period has been reduced to just over six months. Minister Grimm-Benne expressed commitment to continuing this positive trend.

The improvements stem from several key reforms. The state has successfully recruited additional external medical experts to assist in evaluations. Furthermore, procedural workflows have been streamlined. A significant structural change involved the establishment of a new State Office for Social Affairs, Youth, and Health in Halle in April. This centralizes tasks previously handled by separate agencies, enhancing efficiency.

Since January, the processing time has been reduced by a third. We will continue on this path.

— Petra Grimm-BenneAnnouncing the improved efficiency in handling disability applications.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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