How Long Does it Take to Get Social Security Disability?
As of December 2022, the Social Security Administration (SSA) notified those awaiting disability benefits determinations that wait times had increased exponentially due to staffing shortages, lack of funding, and a backlog of disability claims that had accumulated during the pandemic. The customary wait time which once fell between 3-5 months jumped to 7, leaving thousands of Americans waiting in limbo for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
How Long Does it Take to Get SSI Compared to SSDI With Current Delays?
Social Security processing delays are not only affecting those awaiting approval for SSDI applications. Unfortunately, individuals who have filed for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are also dealing with significantly long wait times. This is because even though SSI benefits are funded by the U.S. Treasury, claims are processed by the SSA.
How Long Does A Disability Appeal Take?
A disability claim appeal almost always takes longer than an initial application approval. Unfortunately, the recent backlog of unprocessed claims has only lengthened the appeals process, if for no other reason than these cases are being pushed down the priority list.
In most situations, a disability benefits appeal can take anywhere from five months to several years. The estimated wait time depends partially on whether your reconsideration request is approved, or an appeal hearing is required. The first step of the appeals process is reconsideration, and currently, it takes about five months to receive a decision.
How Can I Speed Up My Disability Claim?
In the midst of current Social Security Disability delays, many applicants are left to wait on a decision without any source of livable income. However, the SSA will speed up the process for some Critical Cases, including:
- Compassionate Allowances List (CAL)
- Presumptive Disability or Presumptive Blindness (and related cases that qualify for expedited payment)
- Veterans with a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Compensation Rating of 100% Permanent & Total Disability (P&T)
- Veterans Who Sustained A Disabling Mental or Physical Injury While on Active Duty on or After Oct. 1st, 2001 (The injury doesn’t have to have occurred during combat.)
- Dire Need Case (DRND)
- Terminal Illness (TERI)
- Potentially Violent
If you are waiting on an SSDI or SSI claim determination, struggling to file a claim, an appeal, or you need help finding a way to expedite your claim, the team at O’Neil and Bowman Disability Group can help.
Contact Us
Contact us at O’Neil and Bowman Disability Group if you need assistance from a qualified Social Security attorney in Norfolk, VA, or the surrounding areas. If you need help applying for disability benefits, filing an appeal, or learning about how to speed up the disability process, you can rely on our team of experienced SSDI and SSI lawyers.
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