Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can feel like an exercise in frustration. For people who are already dealing with a serious medical condition that has taken away their ability to work, the lengthy wait for a decision adds financial pressure and uncertainty to an already difficult situation. Delays at nearly every stage of the process, from initial application review to appeals hearings, have left many deserving claimants waiting a year or more for benefits to which they are entitled.
You Often Face Considerable Wait Times for a Decision From the Social Security Administration (SSA)
Although the SSA maintains internal targets for how long it will take for them to respond to your claim, there is no enforceable metric in your case. You cannot take the SSA to court because they have delayed a response to your case. Unfortunately, you cannot do anything until you receive an actual decision from the SSA. They will not even give you updates during your claim, no matter your level of financial distress.
In reality, you can expect it to take about an average of six months to hear back from the SSA with a decision, and sometimes even longer. There are times when you may receive a faster decision, but that depends on many factors that are squarely outside of your control. The unfortunate reality is that all you can do once you have filed your application is to wait and respond as soon as you can if the agency wants more information.
There Are Limited Employees to Handle Multi-Agency Reviews
At its core, the SSA is a government agency. There are thorough internal procedures that employees must follow when they are processing and evaluating your claim. Further, like every other government agency, the SSA has lost a considerable number of employees recently, which can slow down review times. Although the number of claims has not diminished, the number of people who can handle them has.
Further, the evaluation of your SSD claim is a multi-agency collaboration. A federal employee at the SSA may perform the initial review. The SSA will have access to your work history and the number of credits that you have accumulated. They will also need to send your application to the Disability Determination Service (DDS) in your own home state. This service will work with local doctors, who will make a medical decision.
These doctors may not be able to make a decision based on the medical evidence that they have in front of them. They often need to request additional paperwork, and it can take time to receive it. Your provider may not immediately comply with a request for information, which can further delay the process.
An SSD Appeal Can Add Far More Time to Your Case
There is a strong chance that your wait time could be longer because your initial SSD claim could result in a denial. The SSA is known to deny a majority of initial SSD applications. While this is initially bad news for you, take comfort in knowing that the SSA does not get the final word. There is a robust process that gives you multiple layers of appeal.
However, it can take a considerable amount of time to win a contested SSD case. Every time an appeal is denied and you must proceed to another level, it adds more time to your case. If you file an initial Request for Reconsideration, and then you need to have a hearing in front of an administrative law judge, it can potentially take up to two years to receive SSD benefits.
Get Help With Your SSD Claim by Speaking With a Washington County SSD Lawyer at Osborne Law Firm
Whether you are filing an initial SSD claim or appealing one that has been denied, a Washington County SSD lawyer at Osborne Law Firm can provide you with skilled legal representation. To schedule a free consultation, contact us online or call today at 479-521-7727. Located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, we gladly serve clients in the surrounding areas.