Living with a disability can be extremely difficult. Without the ability to work, it can seem impossible to afford basic necessities like food and shelter. Fortunately, there are programs in place to help disabled people. One such program is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
For many people who qualify for SSDI, a big question is how long it will be before they actually start receiving benefits. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the SSDI timeline so that you can know when to expect the payments you’re entitled to.
What Is SSDI?
Before we get into the timeline, let’s make sure you understand what Social Security Disability Insurance actually is.
SSDI is a program overseen by the Social Security Administration (SSA). This program provides monthly payments to people who can’t work because they have a medical condition that’s expected to last at least one year or result in death.
To qualify for SSDI you must have worked long enough and recently enough. The SSA determines this by using work credits. Generally, to qualify, you will need 40 of these work credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year your disability began.
The Initial SSDI Application Stage
The timeline begins when you first apply for SSDI. You can do this online, by phone, or in-person at any Social Security Administration office. As part of your application, you will need to provide medical records, an adult disability report, proof of U.S. citizenship, and tax records.
Filling out the application and gathering the required documents should not take more than a few days. Unfortunately, it will be much longer for your claim to be processed. Usually, you will wait seven to eight months before finding out if your claim was accepted or denied.
Reasons Your Initial Claim May Take Longer
While 7-8 months is the average time for most people applying for SSDI, it can take longer. This can happen due to:
- Missing or incomplete documents in the application.
- Delays caused by healthcare providers being slow to provide medical documentation.
- Having a complex medical condition that requires substantial review to confirm.
- Backlogs in the SSA office that occur from time to time.
Basically, you should not panic if your initial application takes longer than expected. This happens quite frequently and for a multitude of reasons.
The SSDI Appeals Process Timeline
If your initial claim is denied, you can appeal. However, this will add even more time onto the process.
Reconsideration Stage
First, comes reconsideration. This is when you simply request that your claim be reconsidered. The SSA will once again look at your case and evidence to determine whether or not your claim is approved. The request for reconsideration must be sent within 60 days of receiving the initial decision. The reconsideration stage typically takes an additional 3-6 months.
Administrative Law Judge Hearing
If you are denied again after reconsideration, it is your right to request an administrative law judge hearing. At this hearing, an administrative law judge will review the evidence and determine whether or not your SSDI claim should be approved.
While the hearing itself is relatively short, the wait for a hearing is not. Due to the court’s backlog, you should expect to wait 12-15 months for your hearing.
Appeals Council
If at the hearing you are once again denied your SSDI benefits, you can then request that the Appeals Council review the decision. They may find that you do in fact qualify. However, the average time it takes for the Appeals Council to get to your case is an additional 12-15 months.
How to Speed Up an SSDI Claim
The quickest you can expect for your SSDI claim to take is 7-8 months. Should you get denied repeatedly, the appeals process can result in you waiting for your benefits for 4 years or more.
For many disabled people, this is far too long to wait. To ensure that your claim is approved as quickly as possible, you should make sure you provide all required documentation and that it is accurate.
You should also hire an SSDI attorney to represent you. They can walk you through the process and make sure it goes as smoothly as possible.
