If I Request A Hearing For SSDI or SSI Disability, How Long Will I have to Wait?

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

The hardest part of the Social Security disability process, other than being denied, is the wait for a decision at each level of the disability process. When you file an initial disability claim, you have to wait several weeks to receive your decision. The average time for a decision on an initial disability claim is about one hundred days.

If your initial disability claim is denied, you must file a reconsideration appeal. The average wait time for a reconsideration appeal decision is about sixty days. If you are not approved at the reconsideration level, you have the longest wait ahead of you.

The wait for an administrative law judge hearing appeal is a long one. There is no simple answer to how long your wait will be for a hearing. Social Security hearing’s offices across the country are receiving record numbers of disability hearings requests and these new requests must be dealt with in addition to the backlog of hearing requests most disability hearings offices have already.

Simply put, you may have to wait many months to even be scheduled for a hearing. In fact, the average wait time for a hearing is twelve months or more in most parts of the country. Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done to reduce the time it takes to get a disability hearing.

The only real possibility of expediting your disability hearing request appeal is for you or your representative to file a letter of dire need. If you decide to file a letter of dire need, make sure to send evidence to support your dire financial situation. For example, send late notices, foreclosure or eviction notices, or any other bills or notices that corroborate that you are in dire need.

Sometimes this works and sometimes it does not. Remember, most people are in dire financial need by the time they request a hearing, so not everyone’s hearing can be expedited.

Since you cannot really do much about how long your wait will be for a disability hearing, you can save time by filing appeals as quickly. If you wait sixty days each time to file an appeal, you have added roughly four months to your overall disability claim processing time.

Additionally, make sure to provide the disability examiner handling your disability claim or appeal with any information they request as quickly possible. And if you are required to attend a consultative examination try to avoid rescheduling or missing the appointment.

If time is saved processing your initial disability claim and reconsideration appeal, at least the overall time for your disability case will be reduced. After all, the entire disability process from initial disability claim to the disability hearing is about getting your disability benefits as quickly as possible.

Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page

Individual Questions and Answers

Will Work Cause You To Lose Your Disability Benefits?

How Will Social Security Decide a Disability Case that's filed?

How severe must your condition be to be awarded Social Security disability?

SSI Disability - Filing for SSI Benefits

Is It Harder To Get Approved For SSI Disability Versus SSD?

Filing a Social Security Disability Application

How to qualify for disability - The Process of Qualifying for Benefits

Social Security Disability — when to file

Receiving a Social Security Disability Award Letter

The Psychologist Exam for Social Security Disability and SSI Claims

Is It Harder To Get Approved For SSI Disability Versus SSD?

Application Requirements For Disability - What Do I Need To Start The Claim?

Can You Lose Your Social Security Disability Benefits When Your Case Is Reviewed?

How to File for SSI

When you file for disability and have both Mental and Physical Conditions

The Psychologist Exam for Social Security Disability and SSI Claims

Medicare and Social Security Disability - Basic Facts

How Disabled Does One Have To Be To Collect Disability?

How Does A Social Security Disability Examiner Work to Determine a Person’s functional limitations?

Who Do I Contact at Social Security To File For SSD or SSI Disability?

How does Social Security Decide if I am Disabled?

What is a Social Security administrative law judge disability hearing?

How Long Will it Take To Get a Decision Letter from Social Security Disability?

How Will Social Security Decide a Disability Case that's filed?

How is SSI different from Social Security Disability?

What Happens During A Social Security Disability Interview?

Applying for disability benefits in Massachusetts

Getting Your Social Security Disability or SSI Claim Status

How Long Are You Given To Appeal Your Social Security Disability Denial?

Disability Application - If you get denied for disability do you have to file a new one ?

What Do I Do to File a Social Security Disability Appeal

If Am Medically Disabled, Can Social Security Still Turn Me Down For Some Reason?

When should you apply for Social security disability?

Applying for disability benefits in Iowa

How long Does SSI last?

Will You Get Social Security Disability Benefits If You Cannot Work Your Old Job?

Social Security Disability - What is an unsuccessful work attempt ?

Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Minnesota

What kind of Final Decision can I receive on my Disability Application?

What are the Chances of Being Approved for a Child who is Filing for Disability?

SSD and SSI are Federal Programs

The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here:

Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state

Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials