How Long Does it Take to Get Approved for Disability Benefits?

How long it takes to get approved for disability benefits varies from case-to-case. Although the SSA estimates that typical claims take 6-8 months to receive a decision, it can take longer depending on your case’s complexity.

Several factors in a disability claims process can either expedite or delay an initial decision:

• The amount of medical evidence needed to prove your case
• Whether you need further disability hearings
• The time it takes for medical staff to reply to the SSA’s requests

The best way to ensure your case processes faster is by submitting your disability claim correctly the first time. You may need a disability attorney to help arrange your medical evidence, government documents, and other legal papers.

The Stages of Submitting a SSDI Claim

There are three stages to submitting a SSDI claim, and each have varying lengths depending on your case’s evidence:

• Initial Review: The SSA reviews your application, checks if it passes medical requirements, and makes an initial decision. This step can take between three to four months to finish, but it can be delayed further with insufficient evidence.
• Reconsideration: If your case was denied, you can request the SSA to reconsider your case for appeal. This can also take between three to four months to pass through.
• Further Appeals: In the case that your reconsideration gets rejected, you can have an administrative law judge (ALJ) review your claim. Due to growing case backlogs and a high SSA employee turnover-rate, this step can take six months to two years to complete.

It’s crucial to receive approval in the first step to avoid adding several months or years to your claims process.

How Long Does the Disability Claims Process Usually Take?

As of 2025, it takes around 230 days to process the average eligible disability claim. Because most states have around a 50% approval rate, half of eligible cases may have to go through the appeals process, stretching the average.

To see if your case follows basic non-medical requirements, your case must get examined by your state’s field offices.

After that, every state analyzes its SSDI cases through its own Disability Determination Services (DDS), and some states take longer to process claims than others.

Why Does Disability Take So Long to Process?

As more baby boomers are aging out of the workforce, this creates a backlog of disability claims for the SSA. The growth of women in the workplace also creates a significant increase in unprocessed disability claims.

On top of unprocessed disability claims, the SSA has been experiencing a recent worker shortage. 

With only around 2,000 ALJs working on disability claims, often working on multiple cases at once, this creates a delay in making an accurate decision.

This doesn’t help that about half of all SSDI claims get rejected at the initial level. This sends them to the appeals stage, adding several months to the disability approval process.

Ways to Get a Disability Decision Faster

The main way to get a speedy decision on your disability claim is getting accepted at the initial review.

To secure an approval, you’ll have to gather the right documents that showcase the nature and severity of your disability.

Although you may be tempted to send as many medical documents as possible, know that it may complicate your case rather than help it. Some ALJs have to sort through hundreds, even thousands of medical documents just for one disability case.

Here are crucial ways you can deliver an effective disability claim that can earn a fast response from the SSA.

1. Submit the Right Medical Evidence

It’s important to completely fill out your application and not send inaccurate medical documents. Sending false information is one of the most prevalent reasons disability applications get rejected on initial review.

Examples of medical documents you should add include:

• Medical testimonies from professionals
• X-rays and scans
• Notes on medication you’re taking

Including these medical documents alongside your application prevents the SSA from contacting your doctors directly, potentially saving you months of time.

List every doctor you’ve seen for an appointment regarding your condition and obtain letters from them. Their testimonies can help explain your condition and how its severity prevents you from working.

2. Stay on Top of Your Application Status

If your application needs further medical evidence, the SSA will notify you through your my Social Security account.

Make sure you stay on top of your application status, because you may face a denial if they needed medical evidence and it was too late.

Missing deadlines and failing to follow treatment advice from the SSA implies your disability is not as serious as it seems.

If you resubmit your disability application for appeal without any meaningful changes, there’s a high chance you’ll face denial again.

3. Hire an Attorney to Sort Your Case

The best way to make sure your disability claim sticks is by working with a social security attorney.

An attorney has several roles when pushing a SSDI claim that may be difficult doing on your own:

• They verify your eligibility for benefits
• They can arrange your medical evidence, especially if it’s a complicated condition involving several medical professionals
• They can negotiate with medical providers in your stead
• If needed, they can represent you in court hearings if you want to appeal your claim.

Attorneys are skilled in handling disability cases, and they’ve often previously worked with ALJs in your state. They often know how ALJs want their disability claims formatted and which cases they typically favor or reject.

How Long Does an Expedited SSDI Claim Take?

Certain types of disability require immediate action, deteriorating the body at a faster rate than more common conditions.

The SSA terms these as Compassionate Allowances, and their claim may get expedited so victims can receive compensation before it’s too late.

Typically these expedited SSDI claims take around 1-6 months to complete. If you can submit adequate evidence and file in the right time, your expedited claim may take even less time to process.

Get it Right the First Time With a Disability Attorney.

You can save much needed months out of your SSDI or SSI claim by filing correctly the first time. Work to avoid delays and possible denial by talking to a disability attorney regarding your case.

If you’re having trouble connecting to an attorney, consider using LegalASAP to connect with someone who knows your state’s disability laws. We’re connected to 500+ law firms located throughout the United States, ready to help you with your case.

You can also call 1-888-927-3080 to connect with a LegalASAP representative directly.