Why does it take so long to receive a SSD decision?

Upon the appeal of a denial for Social Security Disability benefits, a party must wait for a hearing to be scheduled before an administrative law judge. As it is a well-known fact, this can take a very long time to happen. So, why is that? Let’s look at some current statistics to answer this question.

In the state of Florida alone, there are more than 11 million residents and growing. Of those, approximately 461,000 receive Social Security Disability benefits. Thousand more apply each year, and 65 percent of those are initially denied. After applying for a Request for Reconsideration, an applicant can expect to wait anywhere from 1-2 years for a hearing date.

After the hearing, it can take up to an additional 90 days to receive a decision. Again, this is just in the state of Florida alone. Across the country, there are backlogs of hundreds of thousands of disability appeals waiting to be heard.

The best way to ensure that you application is processed as fast as possible is to retain the services of an experienced social security disability attorney. He or she will be instrumental in making sure the proper forms are filed in the proper way, just as the Social Security Administration requires. Otherwise, they will be rejected and thereby set your hearing date back even further.

Social Security Disability attorneys usually work on a contingency basis. This means that they do not get paid until you are awarded your disability benefits. Due to the wait time for a hearing, your award will be back dated to the time in which you initially filed your claim. This results in a back-pay amount for which you will receive a lump sum payment. Your attorney fees will be deducted from that amount. Therefore, don’t delay taking the time to understand your options and take timely action.

Source: Disability Benefits Center, “Florida Social Security Disability,” Accessed Dec. 31, 2017