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Applying for disability is a great hardship. The family has lost an income source, so money is tight. You want to work but are unable to do so due to a disabling condition. The disability application process becomes even more disheartening when you discover how long Social Security takes to process the claims.
There are several reasons why Social Security Disability claims take so long:
- First, disability cases do not have deadlines.
- Second, all cases are different. A claimant’s impairments and medical evidence are unique. Some conditions are easy to classify as disabling, while others take longer.
- Third, it depends on who is reviewing your case. Sometimes, a case is assigned to a claims examiner or Administrative Law Judge who takes longer to process claims than others. In short, the time to process your case may come down to “the luck of the draw.”
- Fourth, your claim is taking so long because of the backlog of cases. There are so many open disability cases, it takes a long time for the SSA to process all of the claims.
Although the worst backlog days may be behind us, the appeal process continues to take many months, meaning total time from initial application to a hearing decision still commonly spans well over a year.
The SSA Backlog
Over the last decade, Social Security’s disability applications dipped and then ticked back up, while hearing-level volume and backlogs fell sharply. By calendar year 2024, SSA field offices took about 1.94 million disabled-worker applications (vs. 2.94 million in 2010). Initial DDS receipts followed the same arc (about 1.29 million in 2024).
At the hearing level, receipts have declined from~825k in FY2013 to ~356k in FY2023, and the end-of-year pending inventory dropped from ~1.12 million in FY2016 to ~322k in FY2023, consistent with SSA’s public messaging about eliminating the “backlog.”
Wait times have improved from the crisis years. SSA reports the average hearings processing time fell from a peak of ~605 days in 2017 to ~285 days in 2025, with a sustained agency goal of ~270 days. Actual current wait times still vary by hearing office, and SSA posts monthly, office-by-office averages. In practice, the total timeline from initial application to an ALJ decision is often ~12–18+ months (longer in slower offices), because the clock for “hearing processing time” starts at the Request for Hearing stage, not the initial filing.
How to Speed Up a Social Security Disability Claim
While much of the waiting time is out of your control, there are a few practical steps you can take to help move your case along more efficiently.
1. Submit Complete and Accurate Information
Incomplete forms and missing details are among the biggest reasons for delays. Double-check every section of your application, and make sure your work history, medical history, and contact information are all up to date.
2. Respond Quickly to SSA Requests
If the SSA asks for additional information, forms, or medical records, provide them as soon as possible. Even a short delay in responding can add weeks to the overall timeline.
3. Keep Your Medical Providers Informed
Tell your doctors that you’ve filed for disability. Ask them to promptly send copies of your records to the SSA and to respond quickly if contacted for clarification. Consistent, recent treatment notes can help your claim move forward.
4. Submit Supporting Evidence Early
The SSA cannot decide your case until your medical records and supporting documents are complete. If you have new test results, hospital summaries, or residual functional capacity (RFC) forms, submit them before the DDS or hearing office must request them.
5. Track Your Claim Online
Regularly check your case status at ssa.gov/myaccount. The portal lets you see updates and verify that SSA has the documents it needs. If you notice a delay or missing information, contact your local field office.
6. Request an Expedited Review If You Qualify
Some claims can be fast-tracked under SSA’s special programs, including:
- Compassionate Allowances (CAL): for clearly disabling conditions such as certain cancers or ALS.
- Terminal Illness (TERI): for applicants with terminal conditions.
- Dire Need: for individuals facing eviction, homelessness, or inability to access life-sustaining medication.
7. Work with an Experienced Disability Attorney
An attorney can make sure your file is complete, respond to SSA communications on time, and ensure your claim is properly supported. At the Ortiz Law Firm, we help clients strengthen their claims from day one and avoid common mistakes that cause unnecessary delays. Call (888) 321-8131 to schedule a free case evaluation today.
