How Long Does It Take to Get Approved for Disability?
As of 2026, it takes around 6 to 7 months to get an initial decision on your disability application. If you have to appeal, each step adds another 6 to 9 months, pushing the total approval timeline to two years or more.
In this article, we’ll walk through how long it typically takes to get approved for Social Security disability benefits, and what you can expect at each stage of the process.
Initial Decision
Based on Social Security Administration (SSA) performance reporting from December 2025, the average initial decision takes about 193 days, or roughly 6 to 7 months.
That’s still a long time to wait when your health is limiting your ability to work. Fortunately, initial processing times have improved by 17% in the past year, down from 231 days in December 2024.
Those improvements can help overall wait times, but they don’t guarantee a faster decision for every applicant.
Initial decisions often take longer when:
Medical records are spread across healthcareproviders: Seeing different doctors, specialists, and hospitals over time complicates your records. The Social Security Administration and your state’s Disability Determination Services (DDS) may need extra time to request and review everything.
Your records do not clearly show functional limits: A diagnosis alone is not enough. The SSA looks for details about how your condition affects daily activities such as standing, walking, lifting, concentrating, using your hands, or keeping a regular schedule. If those limits are not well documented, the SSA may request additional information.
A consultative exam is required: When the SSA does not feel there is enough medical evidence, they may schedule an exam with one of their doctors. While this can help strengthen the file, scheduling the exam and waiting for the report can add weeks or months.
Local workloads are heavier: Disability claims are processed through state agencies whose staffing and backlogs vary by location.
After you file, there’s often little you can do but wait. Even strong Social Security disability claims can sit for months while the SSA works through its queue.
It's important to know that for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), there is a five-month waiting period for disability payments. This waiting period begins after the disability onset date listed in your claim.
In many cases, the initial determination process takes longer than the five-month waiting period. However, if your claim is approved before the end of the waiting period, SSDI benefits will only start after the full five months have passed since your disability onset date.
This waiting period does not apply to Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is a need-based program.
Appeals Process
Many initial disability applications do not end in approval. In fact, only about 38% of initial claims are approved. That means most applicants receive a denial and must decide whether to appeal.
Appealing keeps your claim alive, but each level adds more time to the wait.
Request for Reconsideration
Reconsideration is the first step of the appeal process after an initial denial. At this stage, your claim is re-checked by a new reviewer who takes a fresh look at your application to decide whether to change the decision.
According to the latest data from the SSA, reconsideration usually takes around 213 days, or about 7 months. That is an average, and reconsideration can take longer when the SSA requests more records or needs follow-up.
SSA data shows reconsideration processing times have increased in recent years. Backlogs, staffing limits at state disability offices, and added evidence at this stage can all extend the review.
Reconsideration is more successful when your disability case is clearer than it was the first time. That usually means submitting missing medical records, updated test results, or clearer statements from treating providers about your work-related limits. When gaps remain, Social Security may request additional information, which can extend the wait.
If you’re approved at reconsideration, the total average wait from your application will be about 12 to 14 months.
Hearing Processing Time
A hearing is the next level of appeal, where you present your case to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). It’s your first opportunity to explain your limitations in your own words, not just through forms and medical records. That's why it has the highest approval rate of all the appeal stages.
Social Security’s December 2025 reporting states the average hearing processing time is about 263 days, or roughly 8 to 9 months. Hearing timelines also improved during 2025, with waits dropping by around 10% by the end of the year compared to earlier in the backlog.
Hearing timelines vary widely because hearing offices do not all move at the same pace. Your location can make a big difference at this stage.
The SSA publishes hearing office processing time reports, and the differences between offices can be significant.
Hearing timelines often change based on:
Hearing office availability: Some offices have more cases waiting and fewer available hearing dates.
Scheduling changes: If a hearing is rescheduled for any reason, the next available date may be months away.
Late medical evidence: When records come in close to the hearing date, the judge may postpone the hearing to review everything.
Hearing format: Phone, video, and in-person hearings can have different availability depending on the office.
You should also know that you don’t often receive a final decision immediately. After the hearing, you may wait several more weeks for the written decision.
If approved after a hearing, the total average wait from your initial application is about 20 to 24 months.
Appeals Council Review
If a judge denies your claim at the hearing level, you can ask the Social Security Appeals Council to review the decision. Unlike earlier stages, the Appeals Council does not usually hold a new disability hearing or re-examine all evidence. Instead, it reviews the judge’s decision for legal or procedural errors.
Appeals Council reviews typically take 6 to 12 months, and sometimes longer. This stage often adds significant time because the Council handles a large volume of cases and focuses on technical issues. In many cases, it either denies review or sends the claim back for another hearing, which extends the overall timeline.
If approved after Appeals Council review, the total average wait is about 26 to 36 months.
Federal Court
Federal court is the final step in the disability appeals process. Here, a federal judge decides whether Social Security legally denied your SSDI claim.
Federal court cases often take a year or more, depending on the court’s schedule and the complexity of the case. They also require legal representation for the best chance of approval.
Get Help From a Social Security Disability Lawyer
When you’re waiting on a disability decision, time matters. Unnecessary delays, missing evidence, or simple mistakes can add months to an already difficult approval process.
Working with a Social Security Disability lawyer helps you take control of what you can. At Impact Disability Law, our law firm helps you build a case that meets Social Security’s requirements from the start. That means:
Clearly showing how your condition limits your ability to work
Gathering the right medical documentation and evidence
Compiling a complete work history across all relevant employers
Managing deadlines and appeals
Preparing your records and testimony for court
You may not be able to speed up Social Security’s system. But you can make sure your case is as strong and complete as possible.
If you’re applying for Social Security benefits or facing an appeal, Impact Disability Law is here to help you move forward with confidence and clarity.
Schedule a free consultation today.