A Simple Guide to the Social Security Timeline

Guide to the Social Security Timeline

I was just interacting with one of our Social Security clients who received a favorable decision after two and a half years. He was happy and relieved to finally get his

get this good news. This made me think about a question that we receive from a lot of our clients. They often ask me: “How long does a Social Security Claim take?”

Most often the answer to the question above is simply “a long time.” While that short answer is true, it is not very helpful. It is also important to remember that no two claims are exactly the same. Some people get approved after their initial decision; others take many more years than average. The following timeline is based off our nearly two decades doing Social Security claims. It can be a very helpful tool for anyone going through the Social Security process.

Once you have applied, the process can take two years or even longer. Here’s how the process works:

Initial Application: Once you’ve submitted your initial application with all the appropriate paperwork, the SSA will contact your doctors and get additional information about your medical abilities. It takes 3-5 months for the SSA to process your initial claim. The great majority of initial claims are denied.

Appeals: You then have 60 days to appeal the decision by filing a Request for Reconsideration.

Reconsideration Process: The reconsideration process takes on average another 4-6 months. About three-fourths of all claims are denied again at this point.

Appeals: You have another 60 days to appeal this decision by filing a Request for Hearing.

Hearing: It can take 12-36 months to have a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.

So, if your claim is denied at the first two levels (most claims are), it can take two years or longer to actually gain approval. While we can’t speed up the Disability process, give us a call today for a free consultation. 1-877-526-3457 You can also fill out this form, and we can contact you.