When you have a disability, stress about money can worsen your health. Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, is a lifeline for many people, but how long does it take to get SSDI benefits? Unfortunately, you won’t receive money immediately, and the application and approval process can be frustratingly long. The knowledgeable professionals at Disability Advice can help you apply, prevent delays, and increase the chances your claim will be successful.
How Long Does the SSDI Process Take?
From submitting your application to receiving your first payment, the SSDI process currently can take from six to eighteen months. The SSDI application timeline varies based on your state location, circumstances, and the number of backlogged claims in that state. It also depends on whether you’ll need a hearing or further appeal to receive benefits.
For instance, expedited claims for terminal illnesses are generally much faster than standard processing for less serious illnesses and disabilities. Meanwhile, cases requiring a hearing can take another 1 to 2 years after receiving a reconsideration denial.
The SSDI Application Process Timeline
It’s impossible to determine when you’ll get a response to your SSDI application because it’s an extremely complex program that requires medical and disability expertise with the sequential evaluation process.. The Social Security Administration, or SSA, provides averages for each stage, but your disability claim processing time depends on your circumstances and whether you must pursue an appeal.
Initial Application Submission
Completing an application can take a few days because you must fill out paperwork and gather documentation supporting your claim. After applying, you’ll typically receive a response in three to six months. Although there’s no time limit on applying for SSDI benefits, try to file your claim within six months after the onset of your disability to get the process started since you must have a disabling condition that has lasted at least 12 months.
Reconsideration Stage
If the SSA denies your initial application, you have 60 days to file an appeal and begin the reconsideration phase. A disability examiner not involved in the original review of your case will review the entire record to include any new evidence that you submit with your appeal. Reconsideration usually takes six to eight months.
Disability Hearing Wait Time
The SSA may deny your claim again following reconsideration. If so, you have another 60 days to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, or ALJ. On average, this phase of the process can take from 12 to 18 months. Hearings don’t happen as soon as you file, and you will likely have to wait for a decision following your appearance.
The ALJs do not usually announce their decisions at the hearing. They must draft a written decision, which takes time. Instead, they aim to notify you of the outcome within 30 days. Appeals Council and Federal Court Review.
The ALJ might reject your claim, at which point you can file another SSDI appeal requesting a review by the Appeals Council. The Appeals Council may agree to the review or decline to consider your case.
If you disagree with the Appeals Council’s decision, you can file a civil lawsuit in federal court. Federal court review is your last opportunity for appeal, and court appearances often happen long after your initial request. This stage can take years.
Factors That Affect SSDI Processing Time
Circumstances in and out of your control can significantly impact the timeline for your claim. These are some of the biggest factors affecting SSDI approval time:
- Missing documents: Your timeline for a decision will be longer if the SSA has to request additional information because you didn't provide the necessary evidence to review your claim properly.
- Medical record delays: Medical offices should send records to you and the SSA promptly, and failing to do so could slow your processing time.
- High case volumes: The SSA handles millions of claims and appeals each year, and processing is especially slow when many claims are pending.
- Complex cases: If you're filing a claim for a rare condition or a disability that doesn't fall under the officially listed qualifying conditions, you can expect a longer wait.
These issues can create additional anxiety when you apply for SSDI. However, a slow response doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t receive benefits.
Can You Speed Up the SSDI Process?
Depending on the nature of your disability and financial situation, it may be possible to speed up your SSDI claim. However, if you can’t accelerate the process, you can streamline it.
Expedited SSDI Claims
The SSA has fast-track processes for critical cases. They prioritize claims in these circumstances:
- Compassionate allowances: Applicants who provide medical evidence showing they have a certain severe condition the SSA had determined obviously meets the eligibility criteria get expedited processing.
- Terminal illness: If you're filing a claim for an illness that is likely to result in death, the SSA automatically moves your application to the front of the line for faster processing.
- Dire need: The SSA will place your claim in dire need status for priority handling if you do not possess sufficient income or resources to address an immediate threat to your health or safety (for example, immediate eviction, homelessness, lack of food, medicine, or medical care).
An experienced SSDI lawyer can determine whether you have grounds for priority handling.
Tips to Avoid Delays
The timeframe of your SSDI claim is largely outside your control, but you can help the SSA’s evaluation go smoothly. First, make sure your application is thorough and includes all the details the disability examiner will need to understand your condition and prepare your claim for the state agency medical consultant’s review. Initial and reconsideration determinations are made by a disability examiner and the medical consultant.
In addition, check your application for any technical errors, such as misspellings, inaccurate dates, or missing signatures. Submitting a well-documented claim with all your up-to-date paperwork, including medical records, is also critical. It’s also imperative that you respond to every DDS or SSA request for information. Your claim will be denied if you do not cooperate.
When Will I Receive My First SSDI Payment?
Once the SSA receives your application, the natural question is when you will get your first SSDI check. In most cases, it takes around one or two months after you receive the Notice of Award to receive a payment. Using an SSDI calculator will help you determine how much your benefits will be each month. Once a determination has been made by the state DDS, your claim is then transferred to the SSA Payment Center for processing.
SSDI has a waiting period before your benefits begin. SSDI recipients must be disabled for five months before they receive payments, and you won’t receive any retroactive benefits for this waiting period. The waiting period does not begin on your approval date, but on the date the SSA determines your disability began. This is referred to as the Established Onset Date. If your application is approved six to eight months after you applied, your waiting period has likely elapsed, and your benefits will start the month after you are approved. There is no waiting period if you have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
You may also receive up to 12 months of retroactive pay for the months between the onset of your disability and the date the SSA has approved your application. If you qualify for retroactive pay, the SSA will multiply your monthly benefits by the number of months you had to wait for it to reach a decision.
FAQs About the SSDI Timeline
Why is my SSDI application taking so long?
There are many reasons for the slow processing of SSDI claims. This may be the result of insufficient staffing and backlogs. Another staffing reason is associated with the length of time that it takes to train a disability examiner, two years to establish initial level proficiency. The more experienced disability examiners handle the reconsideration claims and CDR’s (continuing disability reviews). Delays can occur if your medical providers delay submission of records, or if the medical records are insufficient and the examiner needs to request consultative examinations, and also for complex conditions requiring multiple specialists.
How can I check the status of my SSDI claim?
You can check the status of your SSDI claim by logging into your account or calling the SSA. Your online account should indicate where your application is in the process and when you might receive a decision.
What is the fastest way to get SSDI benefits?
The best way to ensure the SSA processes your claim quickly is to carefully complete your application and submit the proper documentation. An incomplete or inaccurate application and missing documentation can delay your benefits.
Need Help With Your SSDI Claim?
When dealing with a challenging medical condition, you shouldn’t have to waste time and energy worrying about how long disability approval takes. Disability Advice can help you navigate the complex SSDI process and offer insights into how long you can expect to wait for a decision. Getting guidance and support from professionals with knowledge of disability cases can also help you receive your benefits as promptly as possible.
For help with your SSDI claim or appeal, contact Disability Advice today.
- Free case evaluation
- Assist with denied claims
- Ensure you have all documents
- Make the process easy for you
