Ruling may impact claims processing

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- The Social Security Administration warned a ruling by a U.S. federal judge could disrupt the processing of millions of retirement and disability claims.

The agency filed papers in federal court in San Francisco this week saying a vast bureaucratic logjam would result if there is any delaying in mailing out already-prepared letters to employers, The New York Times reported Friday.

The "no-match" letters advise of discrepancies between workers' Social Security information and agency records.

They also include rules issued by the Department of Homeland Security forcing employers to fire workers without valid Social Security numbers.

Last week a federal judge in San Francisco barred the Social Security Administration from sending the letters in a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the AFL-CIO and several California labor groups.

The suit contends the new rules would result in the firing of thousands of illegal workers, the Times said.

David A. Rust, acting Social Security deputy commissioner, said any delay in the mailing will impact the processing of millions of routine retirement and disability claims.