Facts and figures about backlog of cases, costs at social security tribunal

OTTAWA – The federal social security tribunal is on the verge of clearing a 7,000-case backlog left over from the old system Canadians used to appeal government decisions to deny them social security benefits like Canada Pension Plan disability payments, old age security and employment insurance. Some facts and figures about the tribunal:

7,255: Income security cases transferred to the tribunal in 2013.

536: Old cases left to close.

7,301: Number of cases, old and new, the tribunal’s income security division has in its inventory.

2,051: Number of cases, old and new, the tribunal’s employment insurance division has in its inventory

$3,299: Estimated cost per case the tribunal handles, according to a consultant’s report earlier this year.

8,580: Number of cases the consultant’s report estimated the tribunal would handle annually.