When will I get a decision?

Question: How long does it take to get an answer about my disability claim?

Answer: Well, it depends on where your case is. Each stage of the process has a different expected time frame.

Here is what we expect to see in our area of the country:

Application: When you first apply, you often have an answer within a couple of months. If you are denied, the next step is a Request for Reconsideration.

Request for Reconsideration (also called an Appeal): You will often have an answer to your request within about three months. If denied at this stage, the next step is an appeal and request for hearing.

Appeal and Request for Hearing: Unfortunately, once you request a hearing, it often takes well over a year to get a hearing date. Most people are denied at the first two stages (application and request for reconsideration), so they must request and wait for a hearing.

You will likely receive a decision letter about two months after the hearing. From beginning to end, it is not unusual for the entire process to take two years or more.

Every case is different, and MANY factors that can drag out the decision process. Some cases take a LOT longer than expected. Ask your attorney how long they expect for a decision in your case.