How Long Until My Hearing For Social Security Disability?

How Long Until My Hearing For Social Security Disability?

In 1999, the Social Security Administration received a total of 1,265,037 disability claim applications. By 2014, this number had increased to 2,521,459. This significant rise in people seeking Social Security disability benefits is especially noteworthy considering the decrease in the number of Administrative Law Judges (ALJ) within the Social Security Administration.

In 2021, there were 1235 judges, down from 1315 in 2020. Each judge in 2021 handled an average of 30 hearing dispositions per month. As a result, the time it takes to process disability claims has increased. What used to take 12 months may now take up to 18 months. Additionally, when considering the time required to file for disability benefits initially and file again after the initial denial, the total time is likely to be close to 2 years.

Cases heard by ALJs in the first half of 2023 took approximately 15 months on average to reach that stage, counting from the date the hearing application was filed. However, this is a national figure, and the duration can vary depending on the regional hearing office handling the case.

It is important to note that an ALJ hearing is the second step in a disability appeal process and can take several months to be scheduled. In most cases, individuals must request reconsideration by their state’s Disability Determination Services, the office that initially processed their application. A different disability examiner and medical team review the claim along with any additional evidence presented.

The average time to get an initial decision on a Social Security disability application is about seven months, and the average processing time for reconsideration is approximately six months, according to the latest available SSA data. If the reconsideration goes against the individual, they have 60 days to request a hearing before an administrative law judge who will evaluate the evidence, including testimony from the individual and expert witnesses.

The wait time for a hearing can vary significantly depending on the specific details of the case and the individual’s location. In July 2023, the average wait time ranged from 6 to 32.5 months across different hearing offices, with one to two years being the norm at most facilities.

Social Security is required to provide at least 75 days’ notice of a scheduled hearing date. Although individuals can waive this notice to potentially reduce their wait time, they must still adhere to SSA rules regarding the submission of evidence for their claim before the hearing. Therefore, when filing for a hearing before a Social Security judge, it is essential to expect a wait time of at least 14 months.

The charts below reflect hearing and appeals data from the Social Security Administration website as of September 2023. These should give you an idea of how long until my hearing for Social Security Disability.