How Long Does It Take to Get Disability in Colorado?
After filing your Colorado Social Security disability claim, you can expect to wait an average of 7 to 23 months before receiving benefits. The exact timeline will depend on whether your initial application is accepted or you have to appeal their decision.
Whether you're preparing to file and trying to minimize your wait time or you've already filed and are awaiting a response, it's important to know how long you should expect to wait for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) so you can plan accordingly.
In this article, we'll review how long it takes to get disability in Colorado, including estimates for each step of the application process and how to keep it as short as possible.
Average Wait Times for Disability Decisions
Despite most disability applicants requiring immediate financial assistance, the process is anything but fast. It's also hard to estimate, thanks to additional requests for information and the appeals process that follows an initial decision.
We've compiled city, state, and national data for the three primary stages of the Social Security Disability Insurance application process to help give you an idea of expected wait times for SSDI in Colorado.
While they won't be accurate for everyone, hopefully, this data will help you make effective financial plans until your first check arrives.
Initial Decision
According to the SSA, receiving an initial decision takes an average of 7.3 months in Colorado, a few weeks longer than the national average of 7.1 months.
The initial decision is based on your first filing, including the initial application and submission of medical records to prove your case. You can start by contacting the Social Security Administration (SSA) a few days after submission to ensure they've received your disability application, but it won't help expedite processing.
During this stage, you may receive additional requests for medical evidence or other information from the Colorado Disability Determination Services (DDS) office handling your claim, which extends the wait time even further. You'll have 10 days to respond to their request, but we recommend taking action immediately to minimize delays.
Reconsideration
After rejection, the first step is submitting your claim for reconsideration. You have up to 60 days to file for reconsideration, which takes an average of seven months to complete.
Only about 38% of initial applications get approved and receive SSDI or SSI benefits immediately. If you receive a rejection during the initial decision stage, you move on to the appeals process, where you'll likely spend most of your time waiting.
During reconsideration, an unrelated agent will review your case and provide another acceptance or rejection decision. Unfortunately, only about 15% of reconsiderations are successful.
Hearing Wait Time
In Colorado, it takes an average of 8.6 months for a judge to hear your case. Colorado Springs is a bit more efficient at 8 months, while Denver extends to 9.3 months, close to the national average of 9.4 months.
After an unsuccessful reconsideration, you can appeal the SSA's decision by requesting a court hearing. Here, you or your legal team will present your case to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) who determines whether the claim is valid.
After the disability hearing, you'll receive a decision within three months, bringing the total average processing time to as long as a year just for hearings.
From Start to Finish
In total, the entire SSDI and SSI disability claim process takes an average of 22.9 months if you have to go through the appeal process.
However, you will receive back pay starting from five months after you become eligible for Social Security benefits. For example, if you get injured or a medical condition begins in January and get your first check 18 months later, you will receive 13 months of benefits starting in June.
Tips for Speeding Up the Process
There's not much you can do to shorten the standard processing time for a disability claim in Colorado. However, you can take proactive steps to reduce added delays through proper preparation, effective communication, and expert assistance.
Submitting Complete Documentation
Missing or incomplete documentation is an exceptionally common reason for prolonged processing times. If you don't complete the forms correctly and provide all the necessary medical records for your disabling condition, the DDS office will stop processing your disability application until they receive clarification.
Each additional request they make will extend the waiting period, so make sure you offer as much information as possible from the start.
Staying in Communication with SSA
While consistently reaching out to the Social Security Administration won't help speed up your application processing, it can help ensure you haven't missed any requests for additional information or updates.
If you receive requests for medical records or additional information from the DDS field office, respond immediately and comprehensively to avoid added delays.
Hiring a Disability Attorney
If you want to minimize the wait time for receiving SSDI benefits, hiring a disability lawyer in Colorado to help you is the most straightforward approach.
Before and during the initial decision phase, a disability lawyer can minimize delays by ensuring you complete your SSDI application correctly, provide proper documentation, and quickly answer any additional requests from the SSA office.
Social Security disability attorneys also simplify filing for reconsideration and preparing and presenting your case before the Administrative Law Judge during your appeal hearing. With a well-prepared case, you can increase your chances of approval.
At Impact Disability Law, helping you receive your deserved Social Security disability benefits is what we do. We specialize in navigating the entire process, from application through appeal, for both SSDI and SSI claims and defending your rights to financial assistance.
With our help, you'll spend less time waiting and minimize the stress and frustration that comes with navigating the complex filing and appeals process. While we can't guarantee a favorable decision or fast processing, we do everything we can to ensure you receive the Colorado Disability benefits you're legally entitled to as soon as possible.
Contact our firm today for a free consultation and assessment of your case.