How Long Will It Take to Get a Decision on My Social Security Disability?
If you’re unable to work, you’ll obviously want to get Social Security disability benefits as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the SSDI application and appeals processes are not quick. So, it’s important to have realistic expectations going in.
The SSDI Application and Appeals Timeline
Initial Application
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), it typically takes three to six months to get a decision on your initial application. You may be able to speed the process up somewhat by applying online. You can also help avoid delays by making sure that your application is complete and you provide all necessary documentation. Still, you can expect to wait at least a few months to get a decision, and in some cases it may take more than six months.
If you apply for Social Security benefits right away when you become disabled, the time that you’re waiting for a decision may substantially overlap with the mandatory waiting period to receive benefits. That means you could cut down the time between becoming disabled and receiving disability benefits if you apply promptly.
Reconsideration of Your Social Security Disability Denial
If your initial application is denied–and most are–the next step is to request reconsideration. You have 60 days to make the request, and then can typically expect to wait several weeks for a decision.
Hearing Before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)
If your claim is denied on reconsideration, you’ll have 60 days to request a hearing before an ALJ. Then, you’ll wait a minimum of several months for your hearing date. In March of 2023, the shortest average wait time was eight months. In some areas of the country, the average time between requesting a hearing and the hearing date was two years or more. After the hearing, you can expect to wait a few months longer for a decision.
Appeals Council Review
If your claim for disability benefits is still denied by the ALJ, you have one last chance in the administrative process–requesting Appeals Council review. However, the Appeals Council has discretion to take up a case or not, and most requests are denied. If the Appeals Council does consider your SSDI claim, you may wait anywhere from a few months to two years or more for a ruling.
Time for Social Security Disability Approval
As you can see, the amount of time it takes to receive a final decision on your social security disability from the SSA varies significantly. The most significant factor is how far you have to go in the process. If you file right away and your initial application is approved, you could be receiving benefits as soon as the sixth month after you become disabled. If you have to go through the entire appeals process, you will typically be waiting for a couple of years, and perhaps four years or more.
That means it’s critical that you submit the strongest application possible. And, if you’re denied, you’ll want to take full advantage of the opportunity to present additional information with your request for reconsideration.
Disability Help Group was founded by experienced disability experts who have been representing the disabled for over 15 years. Our team understands how to work with the Social Security Administration in the best interest of the disabled person.
Disability claims often require time and patience from the claimant, which can be tough to deal with when a person’s finances are in question. We have representatives across the country to ensure that your rights are being protected and the disability process is being properly followed. To learn more, call (800) 800-3332 right now, or contact us here.
TOP 5 MISTAKES WHEN APPEALING YOUR DENIED DISABILITY CLAIM
– Matt Sauerwald, Vice-President, Disability Help Group
Matt Sauerwald is one of the top SSDI Advocates in the United States. With an abundance of knowledge and expertise in Disability law, Matt has dedicated his profession to helping those who are unable to work due to a disability and has successfully represented thousands of clients in their claims for disability benefits.
Below, Matt shares with you his top five mistakes that are made when appealing your denied disability claim.
1. NOT APPEALING YOUR DENIAL
The biggest mistake an applicant can make is not appealing their denial. Despite being unable to work on a regular and consistent basis, despite having serious medical conditions, and despite the fact the vast majority of individuals who get approved for Social Security disability do so after appearing in front of a judge, many disability applicants do not appeal initial denials.
2. DELAYING YOUR APPEAL
Delays in appealing a Social Security denial also are a big mistake. Social Security does not do anything fast. There are millions of applicants each year. Filing an appeal as on as is practical is the best practice.
3. NOT CONSULTING WITH AN ADVOCATE WHEN YOU ARE DENIED
There are many reasons to work with a disability advocate from the jump when filing an application. These benefits, notwithstanding, many individuals elect to file the application on their own. However, once you are denied Social Security at the initial determination level, common sense dictates to get help from an expert! As the old saying goes, an individual who represents themselves in a legal proceeding, may have a fool for a client. Social Security has complicated rules and regulations. Don’t fight this fight alone because you might not know what you don’t know.
4. THINKING DENIAL IS THE END OF THE PROCESS
Almost every type of medical can denial can be appealed, even if you have been denied by a judge. Even if you have exhausted your medical appeals, many times there are still options to keep the claim going such as filing a new application or a motion to reopen a prior adjudication.
5. THINKING YOU DON’T QUALIFY
The final mistake people make when getting denied is thinking they don’t have a good case or that they don’t qualify. If Social Security approved everyone they were supposed to approve at the outset of the case, there would not be tens of thousands of hearings occurring every year. If you have serious medical conditions and cannot work because of those conditions, don’t give up!
If your claim has been denied or you are currently working through the appeals process and need help, don’t hesitate to contact Mr. Sauerwald and the team at Disability Help Group at 800-800-3332 now to see how we can help get your claim approved.
Since 2010 Matthew Sauerwald has been a leading voice for the disabled community in seeking compensation from the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Sauerwald has led one of the nations most successful advocacy organizations Disability Help Group since 2015 and has litigated thousands of Social Security disability hearings resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars of disability awards. Learn more about Matthere.
Top Mistakes That Will Get Your Disability Claim Denied Every Time.
– Matt Sauerwald, Vice-President, Disability Help Group
Matt Sauerwald is one of the top Disability Advocates in the U.S. Matt has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in Social Security Disability law and has devoted his professional life to helping those who are unable to work due to a disability. Matt has successfully represented thousands of clients throughout their benefits claims.
Below, Matt shares the top mistakes that will get your claim denied every time.
Failing to cooperate with the process.
If you fail to give SSA what they are requesting, they will deny your case.
Working before you get an initial decision.
When SSA makes the initial decision (which normally takes 6 – 9 months) there is no hearing. You don’t get to testify, and an advocate does not get to argue your case. Everything is paperwork and medical records. Social Security has its own doctors, who you never get to meet, review your file, and determine if you are disabled.
Given the fact that only one-third of individuals applying for disability get approved at the initial stage, this means the doctors are clearly biased towards saying individuals are not disabled.
If you are working at a full-time level or even if a part-time level (if the job is hard or stressful), you are virtually guaranteeing denial.
Failing to attend your hearing.
Disability Help Group wins thousands of disability awards each year. This is the most important day in your case. Social Security is now offering phone and video hearings.
Failing to attend your hearing is a huge mistake because this is the one part of the process where you get to tell your story and have someone advocate for you and argue your case. Show up!
Working and not disclosing the work.
There are special rules about working Social Security disability. You can attempt work for 6 months and continue your case so long as you have to stop because of a medical condition. This is called an unsuccessful work attempt.
If you have already been out of work for 12 months or longer due to a medical condition and returned to work, you can still get paid for the period of time you were out of work. This is called a closed period.
If you are working, don’t hide it. Talk with your advocate about it and Social Security.
Not appealing a decision.
Many people get denied at the initial stage of the process and give up. This makes no sense unless you are back to work full-time.
Most people who get approved for disability do so at their hearing. Even if you are not sure about the case, until you are back to work full-time, you should appeal.
Working with an advocate can ensure your appeal gets filed and processed quicker too.
For individuals approaching age 62 or on early retirement, many don’t think of disability as even an option.
This is a mistake. When you take early retirement, you are penalized. You get less money on a monthly basis than if you waited for full retirement age.
If you are on early retirement and can prove you were disabled prior to the election of early retirement you can eliminate the early retirement penalty. This could mean tens to hundreds of thousands of extra dollars in your pocket.
If your claim has been denied or you are currently working through the appeal process and need help, contact Mr. Sauerwald and the team at Disability Help Group at 800-800-3332 today and see how we can help get your claim approved.
Since 2010 Matthew Sauerwald has been a leading voice for the disabled community in seeking compensation from the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Sauerwald has led one of the nation’s most successful disability advocacy organizations Disability Help Group since 2015 and has litigated thousands of hearings resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars of disability awards. Learn more about Matt here.
Top 5 things you must do to get your disability claim approved.
– Matt Sauerwald, Vice-President, Disability Help Group
Matt Sauerwald, a prominent Disability Advocate in the U.S. has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in Social Security Disability law. Matt has dedicated his profession to helping those who are unable to work due to a disability and has successfully represented thousands of clients in their claims for disability benefits.
In this article, Matt shares his top five tips to get your disability claim approved.
1. Understand the burden of proof.
Many individuals applying for disability do not understand what Social Security needs to find to make a favorable disability determination. The basics are that to get approved an individual needs to convince Social Security they cannot work, not just their past jobs, but any jobs that exist in the national economy full-time basis.
Social Security defines full-time work as regular and continuous work, 8 hours a day, five days a week, 52 weeks a year with only a lunch break and two 15-minute breaks throughout the day. However, for individuals age 50 – 54 and age 55 and up, there are special rules that make it easier to win a favorable disability determination. Understanding these subtle differences can be the difference between winning and losing.
2.Be out of work or expect to be out of work for 12 months or longer.
Social Security does not offer compensation for short-term disabilities. To compensate for disability, Social Security requires a continuous 12-month period where an individual is unable to work due to a medical event or a combination of medical conditions.
If you are unsure about how long you are going to be out of work you should still file. However, if you know for sure you will be back to work in 3 – 6 months, this program is not for you, and you are not going to get paid.
3.Cooperate with the process.
Dealing with the government can be frustrating. Individuals applying for Social Security disability are often in tremendously difficult life situations. They have medical conditions that are serious and prevent them from working. They turn to Social Security because they are in dire need of financial and medical assistance and are simply seeking access to the money they paid into the system now that they really need it. It can routinely take 6 – 9 months to get an initial determination.
During the early part of the process, SSA sends out a lot of paperwork that must be completed. SSA schedules medical examinations with SSA doctors. In between paperwork and these appointments, there is often silence. The most important thing to do is cooperate. If Social Security sends forms, you fill them out immediately. You submit them. You make sure SSA has them. If SSA schedules an appointment, you go. Don’t fight the process because all that does is cause further delay or denials.
4.Seek medical treatment.
People often think that their cases come down to how they describe their disabilities. This may be the case when you get to hearing, but at the early stages, it all boils down to what you can prove, not what you say.
Individuals who are in medical treatment have a better chance of getting approved than individuals who are not. That does not mean you cannot win with little to no medical treatment, it just means it is harder and more likely will require a hearing in front of a judge.
If you are in medical treatment, use each treatment event as a chance to document how your medical conditions are limiting your ability to live a normal life. When you see a doctor or nurse and they ask how you are doing, don’t just say “okay”.
If every time you see a doctor you say “okay”, by the time SSA makes a decision you will have repeated entries that you’re doing “okay”. Even if you are doing okay at the of the treatment say “I’m doing okay but…..yesterday, I was not” or “Last week was really bad for me.”
5.Don’t give up.
If you really cannot work because of your medical conditions, don’t give up. Social Security saves hundreds of millions of dollars each year by denying and delaying cases. Remember, this is your money you are fighting for!
Seek help before giving in.
If your claim has been denied or you are currently working through the appeal process and need help, contact Mr. Sauerwald and the team at Disability Help Group at 800-800-3332 today and see how we can help get your claim approved. Since 2010 Matthew Sauerwald has been a leading voice for the disabled community in seeking compensation from the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Sauerwald has led one of the nation’s most successful disability advocacy organizations Disability Help Group since 2015 and has litigated thousands of Social Security disability hearings resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars of disability awards. Learn more about Matthere.
– Matt Sauerwald, Vice-President, Disability Help Group
Matt Sauerwald is one of the leading Disability Advocate’s in the U.S. With a wealth of knowledge and expertise in Social Security Disability law, he has dedicated his career to helping people who are unable to work due to a disability and has successfully represented thousands of clients in their claims for disability benefits.
Today, Matt shares his top five benefits of working with a disability advocate:
Social Security has special rules for disability applicants who are 50 years or older which makes getting approved easier. These are called the Medical Vocational guidelines or grid rules. However, application of these rules is not automatic. They all come down to the exertional and skill level of an applicant’s past work. Hiring a Social Security disability advocate to file your application can help ensure you get the benefit of these rules.
The unfortunate reality is that a majority of individuals who apply for Social Security disability get denied at the first administrative steps of the process. Here’s how a skilled advocate can help you get approved:
1. Working with a disability advocate helps many people by correcting the errors that Social Security makes in adjudicating claims at the first steps of the process.
2. A disability advocate can help claimants understand the nuisances in the SSA disability system, fix holes and medical evidence, and develop a winning strategy if the individual has to wait for a hearing before a judge to get approved.
3. That same disability advocate will help the client get prepared for the hearing and argue on the client’s behalf before an administrative law judge.
4. Aside from preparing and educating clients on how the system works, the other thing a disability advocate can do is save the client time.
5. While a disability advocate cannot/should not fill out forms for the client, the advocate can automatically file appeals, request and receive updated medical records to complete the case file at the hearing stage and help the client apply rules that result in SSA issuing a decision more quickly.
If your claim has been denied or you are currently working through the appeal process and need help, contact Mr. Sauerwald and the team at Disability Help Group at 800-800-3332 today and see how we can help get your claim approved.
Since 2010 Matthew Sauerwald has been a leading voice for the disabled community in seeking compensation from the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Sauerwald has led one of the nation’s most successful disability advocacy organizations Disability Help Group since 2015 and has litigated thousands of Social Security disability hearings resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars of disability awards. Learn more about Matt here.
