Economy -- Bernanke Predicts Bank Failures: On the Hill a second straight day, Fed chair Ben Bernanke testified that "there probably will be some bank failures," as the econony slows but ruled out stagflation. Analysis: Bernanke and the Recession. Housing -- As Senate Stymied on Housing Stimulus: Senate Republicans, lining up with President Bush, blocked a Democratic bill to let bankruptcy judges reduce the terms of foreclosed mortgages and expanded allowance for state housing finance authorities to issue mortgage revenue bonds. Story. Social Security -- Disability Claims Boom(er) Times: Demographics may be causing the the Social Security Administration's 750,000-claimant backlog of eligibility disability benefit hearings, with average wait times of 500 days and 300,000 claims over a year old. Disability Determination Process.