How Long Does it Take to Get Approved for Disability? (Step by Step Timeline)

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Artwork: Robin Mead

A typical Social Security disability timeline, complete with all the interesting things that may happen to you along the way.

Before You Apply

Initial Application

The initial application typically takes between 3 and 6 months. Here’s what can happen during that time:

Optional Steps:

Request for Reconsideration

If your initial application is not approved, the next step is reconsideration. Reconsideration stage does not happen in all states. Reconsideration typically takes between 2 and 4 months. Here’s what can happen during that time:

Optional steps:

Appeals & Hearings

If your reconsideration request is not approved, the next step is to request a hearing appeal. Hearing appeals process typically takes between 17 and 22 months. Here’s what can happen during that time:

Optional Steps:

After a Denial

  • After an application denial, you should almost always appeal
  • After a reconsideration denial, you should almost always appeal
  • After a hearing denial, you have a choice to make: what are my options?

After an Approval

It is usually 2 to 4 months to receive your first check. Often faster for initial applications and reconsiderations. If you are in financial crisis, you can contact your Congressperson to speed things up. Here’s the process:

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97 thoughts on “How Long Does it Take to Get Approved for Disability? (Step by Step Timeline)”

  1. HELLO I applied back in 2017 went through the process and just had my hearing with a judge.
    I have checked my ssa page and it says A representative started a final review of your appeal on October 12, 2021. For most people, this review takes 2 to 4 weeks.
    is this a good sign or a bad sign?

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  3. I applied for disability in September 2018. I just received word from my disability examiner that my case has been sent to the doctors to look over. They, I guess, will make a decision and I will then get a letter of approval or denial. I’m very nervous about the decision process, but not knowing when I’m going to get that decision is the hardest.

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  4. Thank you for all you do. I wish so much I’d found this site months ago.

    My question: I applied for SSI for my disabled adult child. I received a phone call telling me she had been approved, but they required me to be a representative payee. We went in, answered questions for the benefits determination (I totally blew it, argh, but am using the info here to improve things in future, I hope) made the bank account to be rep payee as instructed, and I haven’t heard word one since. That was well over a month ago.

    I’m feeling tense because I never got an official approval letter. I’ve asked my daughter to make an online account so we can see the status but she was unable to do so and was locked out. Do you have any advice?

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  5. Hello,
    I came across your site and it is very helpful!
    I am at the hearing stage waiting for a hearing date. I got a message On line shortly after my attorney filed for a hearing date (within days) that says a medical decision has been made and we are working on your decision. Could I of gotten an on the record decision? I called my attorney and he said that the information looks like that may of been what happened but he will have his staff call to see what is going on. His staff called me and said that social security said that a decision has not been made yet. I’m just wondering if this statement on their website could just be a mistake or truly an OTR decision. The request for a hearing was filed October 7, 2019 by my attorney.
    Thank you so much.

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  6. I recently had my hearing finally and it has been 30 days today! My attorney says that while the Judge we had is very fair and liberal. She does take her time to send out her decisions. In the meantime, I realized that I changed banks between when I originally applied and now. How should I do to update that information with SSA or can I update it when they contact me later on? Just unsure what steps to take… Thank you so much!

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  7. Hi. I love the artwork and the info! Long story short-3/22/19 filed. Today it’s gone to field office signed by Dis Determination Dr recommending approval. SSI did interview 4/22/19. Ok. The question: If I get SSI AND SSDI I get the lesser of the two? My SSDI was $1340. But-if SSI is only $791 and I get max SSI that’s $500/month less! (The poorer I am, the less I get?). Thx!!

    Liked by 1 person

      2. I wanted to relay to you that Amazon Prime is $5.99/month for people on foodstamps-so that is helpful!! You just sign up on their site.

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    2. From my experience, you apply for SSI and SSDI in parallel, but nothing happens with SSI until you’re decision comes in. Then they look at any income you may have had and offset it against the allowable amount for the months you’ve waited. SSI only goes back to when you first applied, not back to the onset date of the disability. In my instance, my surgery left me disabled in mid-July of last year, but I didn’t apply until October. That is when the clock started for my SSI. As I am sure you know, there’s a 5 month waiting time in which you are not paid for SSDI.

      In my instance I was finally approved in March of this year (took them about 5 months to approve it.) but I had already gone well past my 5 months since the disablement, so I was in the clear for that. What did however surprise me was the SSI. Basically I got nothing from SSI even though they sent me a check for a few hundred dollars. What happened is this… They sent me a check for SSI (a few hundred dollars) and then when they sent me my first SSDI check, they deducted the amount I had received for SSI and then turned my SSI claim off because you can’t collect both at the same time unless you have an extreme circumstance.

      Also, if you have kids under the age of 18 living at home with you, you are eligible to receive up to 50% of your designated payment for them was well. So if you get 1,000 a month, you would also get 500.00 for your kids. But it’s split up between them. So if you have two kids, they would each get 250.00 a month, until one graduates from high school and is over 18. Once that happens the 250 would automatically move over to the other child. Either way, you would continue receiving the same amount until the youngest one graduates and hits the age of 18.

      Also, in my instance, my claim was in the hands of the determination team (who are not SSI employees) and they had scheduled me for a psych evaluation, which pushed everything out 7 weeks because that was the soonest they could see me… So my doctor wrote a “Doctor’s Statement” and faxed it to the determination team. The very next day they cancelled my psych eval and moved it right along to the final stages of approval. If you have a legitimate disability and your doctor lays out the worst case scenario (which for me is amputation or death) they may move things along more quickly… But that was just my experience, it may not be typical.

      Hope this helps.

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  8. My boyfriend had a disability hearing back in march. We found out they made a decision. We just got a letter saying it is important he call them for them to make a decision. It doesnt say anything else. What could that be for?

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  9. Hi Sleepy Girl,

    I have a quick question…

    I sent in my full medical review paperwork last Monday March 18 (in the mail)

    SSA requested it be in by April 5.

    My question is, is these a way (other than calling SSA) like checking online, to see the status of my full medical review.

    (I have seen other’s comment how they were able to check their status online w/o having to call SSA)

    Thank you I advance.

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    1. I don’t know if cdr status shows up online. I’ve only heard of people doing this while applying. You can always create an online account and see. At ssa.gov. Hope it goes well.

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  10. hi, i got my letter for fully favorable jan. 25 2019. and i was just wondering how long it takes to get my first check. i know they say 30-60day but i was just wondering if anyones has came sooner? I was approved for ssdi.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Hi! I went to my hearing for SSDI in December. I was approved by the judge at the hearing. My question is when I filed over 2 years ago I had a checking account and put the account number on my app. However, the account was closed and I have a new account. I was told I could go on my ss website and update but its showing a decision has been made and you will get a letter… It does not give me the option to make those changes. How do I update my checking account info? The SSA office told me I would get a letter but I have heard so many people say they got their back pay or monthly payment before they received a letter.. Not sure how to handle. Pls advise!

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  12. I saw today where my application says that a medical decision has been made, they are further processing my benefit application….has anyone had good luck here at this level? Is it still either way?

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      1. It means either Yes they approved it or No they did not. Look to see if there’s a payment date showing in the future. That would be a Yes.

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      2. Sorry for the delay, I’ve been getting my benefits since April now, good luck to yah, it can be nerve racking but hang in there

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      3. Yes. My boyfriend got same info and it took about 4-6 months to finally get the correct info and to get what little bit more they needed. Then he had a telephone interview and about 2 months from telephone interview he finally got a check. So keep pushing forward.

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  13. What a great site, so much information! I applied for SSDI in late October (although the date of my surgery was 7/20/18) and had included all of the medical information from my surgery and the doctor’s orders to be non-weight baring for at least 1 year. Like everyone else, I waited until I received a letter from a medical reviewer in my local office. He wanted all of my doctors to fill out forms and they did. After reviewing everything, he sent me a letter stating that there wasn’t sufficient medical evidence to support my claim (even though on the phone he said that I had plenty.) In the letter he noted that I also take Zoloft and now wants a psych evaluation even though my claim has nothing to do with that.

    So I agreed to the interview which was scheduled 6 weeks out. I then called my podiatrist who performed the reconstructive surgery and asked her to send in a “Doctor Statement” for my records. She did that on Tuesday and then yesterday I see mild movement on my account, saying that my claim had been moved to the determination phase. So I call up the guy that I’ve been working with to make sure he got my doctor’s letter and he said… “Yep, we got it and a decision has been made on your claim.” I said that’s great, what has been decided? He went on to explain that he can’t tell me either way and that I will have to wait for the letter in the mail. I then ask him about the psych appointment in 6 weeks and he says “Oh, that’s been cancelled, there will be no need for that.”.

    This feels like a good thing, but I’ve been let down so many times it also feels like something may not be right. Oh and I had another question… Before I applied for SSDI, my statement said “If you qualify for disability today, this is your monthly payout.” But ever since I applied, that bit of information was taken down and I can’t see it. Is there any reason I should be concerned that it will be a different (lower) amount if I am approved?

    Thank you for any help or guidance.

    Tony N.

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    1. It definitely sounds like a positive sign. The benefits listed online are just an estimate, the final amount will depend when they set your onset date (date you become disabled). Hope it goes great for you.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I waited another mot h and called the office got approved been getting benefits and yesterday backpay, good luck!

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      2. I was approved for said and social security benefits on August 20,2020 for back pay from January 12,2017 to now. I just did my paperwork over phone with social security. I’m asking when will I get my first payment? Weeks months I have a hardship I just sent to them about housing, living, food and bills

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        1. Hi! I ended up calling the local office after a few days to find out the status, I called about two weeks from the date it said it was in for accuracy

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        2. When was your court date? I’m still waiting I filed November 2018 my court date was August 13th. I’m still waiting for decision, how long did it take you?

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  15. Does anyone know how much weight is given to VA Disability information? I am considered permanent an total through the VA and I know VA uses a different measurement but just curious, Also, I was told I was going to a CE appointment but they reconsidered saying the RFC I submitted answers the Drs questions. Just curious if anyone thinks that maybe a good sign, Anxiety levels through the roof, 5th back surgery coming up, interested and thanks to any information you can provide!

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    1. Oh, yes, no promises but I would definitely see that as potentially a very good sign.

      I don’t know the answer about VA. I think it was given more weight in the past, but policies have changed. It will be helpful either way though.

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    2. I too am a 100% P&T vet. I was recently approved at the hearing level. The Administrative Judge gave heavy weight to a letter written by my VA therapist. I don’t think being 100% P&T alone guarantees approval but VA doctor letters of support make make all of the difference in approvals and denials.

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  16. Hi sleepygirl I been applying since 2010 for said got denied like three time I’ve been diagnosed with bipolar disorder anxiety and on Feb 13 of this year I saw the judge after several months pass by SSI called me so I can see an SSI examiner on Oct 4 I went I think it went pretty good so now I’m still waiting I called the SSI decision number last week they told me the judge made a decision and it went straight to the underwriting then it will go back to the judge to sign what does this mean?

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    1. That is just the normal process for all cases. The judge makes the decision and then it gets sent to a decision writer who write up the letter and then the judge signs it and then it goes to you. I hope it goes well for you

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  17. Hi my name is Dee in June 2018 i applied for disability in November 2018 i received my first check for ssdi but I also applied for ssi a rep has called me in. Sep 2018 for additional information about My finances when I check the social security site all it says is that a decision has been made and a rep will contact me..well I already talked to the rep..so my question is does that mean I am approved for ssi as well…can I receive both and when will I get my first check for ssi If I was approved?

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  19. Hello, I recently had a hearing that had been remanded back to the Alj ,she had denied me because I had made a few more dollars in certain years than substantial gain, I have had lower back problems for years with nerve impingement, have 3 discs herniated/ruptured in neck, along with a small spot of spina bifida near the l5, I had hit a tandem in 2011 and was in a coma with bleeding on the brain, in 2012 I signed up, after regular denials I requested a hearing which I finally had in April 2016 this is where I received the denial after hearing, I ended up filing an appeal with appeals council, they remanded it back and I just had case on 10th , the last time with denial I could check my ssa and see that it was denied just a few days after, this time there is nothing, and the hearing office will only let me know that she’s reach a decision and sent it to writer on 26th , is there any way I can get the decision? I have been waiting and watching everything I have accumulated slowly start to disappear and I am just trying to see that i am going to be able to make sure my boys an wife are ok… thanks guys for any help

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    1. So sorry to hear all you have been through. I’m sorry I don’t know what there is to do except wait for the decision at this point. I hope it goes well for your family.

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  20. Hello All, My husband was scheduled for his ALJ hearing this month but two days before the hearing the Baltimore office called & said the judge cancelled the hearing because after reviewing the case she ruled in our favor. They told us that a letter would follow shortly. Since they canceled the hearing does this mean a favorable approval or can they still do partial even though she cancelled it because records were enough?

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  21. Hi! Wondering if you had any advice? I was laid off at the end of January 2018, and because my progressive disability was making it harder and harder to maintain a 40 hour work week, I decided to get back on SSDI. I had just passed my extended eligibility term, so I reapplied the first week of February 2018. I went to the actual SSA office to reapply, and they gave me a stack of papers to take home and fill out. Filled them out and mailed them back within the same week. Then, it was radio silence… I didn’t hear from them in months. I have SMA, which falls under compassionate allowance, so I called them for an update. They said that my case was actively being worked on and I should hear something within 60 days, but no one contacted me. Then mid-June, I received mail from them stating they had some follow up financial questions for me. I filled everything out and submitted some additional pay stubs, but haven’t heard anything since. It’s been 8 months since I reapplied, and: I should be a compassionate allowance and have called and left messages for who I think is my case manager, but nothing has happened.

    Does this seem normal? Any advice on what my next steps should be? I’m broke and at my wit’s end.

    Thanks in advance,
    Dana

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        1. if your current medical records state that you are type 1, you might try sending a written note to your disability examiner requesting to be processed as a compassionate allowance case. Then (super helpful and important) contact your congressperson’s office and ask them to inquire for you to make sure the request was received and they are considering it fairly. Hope this helps.

          https://howtogeton.wordpress.com/2017/10/16/how-can-i-get-social-security-to-move-me-to-the-top-of-the-list/

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  22. Thank you for maintaining this blog! I stumbled upon this yesterday and I feel so much better. I suffer from severe Panic, Anxiety and Bi polar 1 depression, as well as ADHD and severe fatigue. I’ve been home bound for 3 years now. I was working a very stressful job, working in a lab and office environment performing testing, quality reviews on product to be sold to GE and Boeing. My part was extremely critical to the success of the bottom line. Anyways, I suffered a panic attack one day at work, I went on STD and regrouped with medication. I went back a few months later, it was not long that another panic attack started and I actually blacked out. So I went on STD again. This time when they brought me back, I worked the office part of the job, and worked part time hours. Honestly it made things a whole lot worse. So with my DH support I resigned. I became completely home bound, more depressed and now I seemed to be more tired than I was before. I would try to fight sleep, but I would get dizzy, and start feeling nauseous that I had no choice to lie down. In October of 2017, I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and peripheral neuropathy. It is a constant battle just trying to care for myself, let alone my three children, pets, and DH. I filed for SSDI on 3/31/2016. Was denied twice then sent for a hearing. My hearing was 5/3/2018. I had yet to meet my lawyer. When I did the day of my hearing she basically told me Inhad no case. I had limited medical records and I was only 39.
    She hadn’t worked with the ALJ I was assigned so she wasn’t sure how he is with cases like mine. Anyways, he said he knew there were more records and he was going to leave my case open for two weeks to get those reviewed. He seemed more concerned with the diabetes than anything. He didn’t say much. My lawyer did the questioning and I feel like I did well. She got the vocational expert to admit the jobs he compared my past work to, laundry folder and janitor, would be impossible with more than 2 days a month missed. I had stated I was missing more than 12 days a month because of fatigue. After the hearing she felt like it went a lot better than she expected it too, but said it really could go either way! So after 5 mos of anxiously waiting a decision, my status on the SSA finally changed to “ a medical decision has been made….. I am so nervous, I hope he found me to be a credible person, I really cannot even think about working. It’s a daily struggle to get out of bed, take my BS, medicate and sometimes shower. My children are amazing they are pretty self sufficient. My Husband is so patient with me and kind. He really does take care of four kids. Anyways, thank you again for th wealth of information here. I am going to make an appt. with a doctor that is mentioned here that deals with CFS/ME. Those symptoms I can certainly identify with.

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  23. I applied for my 11 year old son when he was 8 for add and he has a really hard time reading and learning new things. I gotten a letter asking for a bank statement or checkbook for where I’ll like to receive the payments too what does this mean

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  24. Hi, I applied for SSI on behalfe of my daughter (3 months old, CHD disability) on the first week of June 2018. I received a call to go in to the ss office on August the 29th and I went and signed some paperwork so I could be my daughter’s payee and that all the information that was given to them was correct.the lady there didn’t tell me whether she got approved or denied at all she just said she had 30 days to close my case and that I had to send her two letters of my mother saying she lets me live in her house free of charge and of my ex husband that sends me money each month for my monthly expenses. I sent the letters she asked for the following day Aug 30th and haven’t heard anything since then. I keep wondering if my daughter got approved or not.

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      1. The reason my mom doesn’t charge me is because I have every limited money to even be able to pay her rent but if I were to get my daughter’s Ssi, my mom would actually want to charge me some money eventually. Should I report that to the case worker or should I wait for them to send me some type of approval. Thank you once again for your replies and answers.

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        1. hi alexa, when you get approved, you can report to your caseworker and also show a copy of a written rental agreement with your mom. there are some very specific rules for the amount of rent (dollar amount) that can affect an SSI check. You can see them on the link above. Hope it goes great for you.

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  25. Hello Sleepygirl….thank you for such great information…I have a few questions which is probabably repeats that you have answered before…. my husband applied for SSDI on line…it’s been a month…his doctor filled out the RFC form, got it back from doctor,he made an appt at local ss office…sceheduled in 1 month. His doctor put in his “on line medical file” that is connected to all the clinics that he is permanently disabled. He was bringing the RFC form and all medical paperwork to the appoint. Today, a week later after he called and was given an appt, a case worker called said they have cancelled his appt and will be contacted by phone later this week. He asked the case worker about all the medical papers and the RFC form he has that the SSDI website says it is needed. The case worker said to just wait to be contacted. First: hopefully this is an interview and not a bad sign?.. have you heard of this scenario before?,Second: Should we go ahead and mail the RFC form in to our local office..we do not have a contact/case person as we were not given anyone yet..just the lady that called to advise the appt was cancelled. Thank you.

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    1. Hi Maria,

      I’m not sure why they canceled his appointment.

      If it has been a month, his case might not be at the local office anymore. They may have already transferred it to disability determination, which could be in a completely different place.

      You might find it helpful to call and ask who is handling his case, and get their contact information. If it has already been assigned to a disability examiner, you could contact that person directly. Hope this helps:

      https://howtogeton.wordpress.com/2017/03/13/how-to-check-your-records-new-applications/

      Like

  26. Hello I have a question I applied for ssi and ssdi back in September and got my letter of denial in April I’m now in reconsideration and I still haven’t heard back anything does it usually take this long

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  27. I applied for SSDI Aug of 2010, at the encouragement of my Drs and my short disability insurance which was also my employer. My short term disability through my employer was about to convert to long term disability and I have been unable to work and on short term disability as of March 2010. I had kept great records of all the Drs that I had seen for the past few years, all the medications I had been on and all the hospitalizations I had had, so when I applied online I filled every box and question with oddles of detailed info and I had a very supportive dr. Within a few days of applying I had an in-person appointment at the local SSA office, a little while later I was mailed oddles of paperwork, I filled out everything throughly, made copies for my records, and returned everything certified mail return receipt requested to prove it was received on time. My mom was my contact person, she was sent a packet to fill out and they also called her to ask about the limitations of my condition. I was not sent to a gov dr as I had oddles of medical proof from the Drs already treating me. Within 4 weeks from my first applying online for SSDI I received a phone call letting me know I was approved, and because I was approved in Sept of 2010, which coincided with my 6th month being disabled, this satisfied the SSDI 6 month waiting period before benefits can start, so my first SSDI check was paid the following month Oct 2010. My mom also applied by herself and was approved in 4 weeks (she had a very different disabling condition which eventually killed her in 2015). The point is that everyone told me SSDI is so hard to get and everyone gets denied on the first try and that is not true. My significant other was recently denied (he says this is the 4th time denied) for SSDI, and he is dying a slow painful death for chronic congestive heart failure at age 42, and he meet the SSDI blue book criteria, but those handling his claim for him never had the correct diagnosis, not his cardiolist, nor the record or proof submitted so he was being evalued and denied for the wrong condition! Now that we know this, I am helping him gather everything needed to start over with a new claim for the actual diagnosis that is killing him (which was a mystery to Drs when he nearly died a year ago and spent a month in the ICU and took another nine months and a stroke later for Drs to figure out the source and get a proper diagnosis etc. I found this site in doing research to prepare him for reapplying, and it looks like this site will be a great resource. I worked for a major intertional insurance company for nearly 10 years and that prepared me for being a good advocate for myself. The insurance companies, (both private, public and gov) are not in business to help people, they are in business to make money. The case managers and claim approvers and medical professionals who report back about you to those entities have jobs that depend on them finding ways to deny your claim or get you kicked off claim so they can not pay you or stop paying you disability benefits. Everything you communicate wether orally or in writing, digitally or on paper MUST be carefully thought through keeping in mind your words CAN AND WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU. It’s your job as the disabled person to advocate for yourself and most people do not know how to do this, you site is desperately needed because if prepares folks to be their best advocate and not their own worst enemy. Thank you for this site. Feel free to contact me if sharing my story in more detail may help your readers.

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  28. Hello,
    I applied for ssdi back in Oct 2017. I haven’t heard anything about a decision other than it’s in Quality Review. Should I be concerned especially by this still being in the initial stage? Thank you for any help.

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    2. Stephanie, my SSDI case was in quality review for a little over 2 years. Every time I called someone would say it’s in quality review and that’s all. FINALLY, a little over 2 years later I spoke to a man who looked into it and said ah oh, someone made a huge mistake here, ok I will fix this for you, he gave me his name and contact number/ext#. Stay vilegant with this. This slowed my claim down considerably 5 years later I am still waiting for a decision on my initial application.

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  29. How long after my wife applying for Representative Payee will I receive my check and/or approval letter?

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  30. I’m at the request for consideration stage. I went to a mental evaluation exam and 15 days after I got a letter. It said I’m still considered disabled. That it’s only telling me I’m disabled and if anything comes up that affects my benefits I’ll get another letter. Does this mean I won’t get any SSI? What’s next?

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      1. I was receiving and then when it went under review they stopped the benefits. I appealed their decision and 6 months later I went to a consultative exam. Then I got this letter 15 days after saying that they’ve decided that I’m still disabled. But I see nothing about the money or backpay in the letter which is why I’m confused.

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  31. I don’t think it’s clear enough that all the bullet points before “Decision by Disability Examiner and/or Medical Consultant” can occur within those first 3-6 months of the initial application.

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  32. I received a statement of claimant form. It was already prefilled. I just needed to agree by signing. It started off with: I agree to report entitlement to, and changes in the amount of, state disability and workers compensation benefits. I understand that such benefits may affect my social security or result in overpayment that I may have to pay back. I hereby agree to promptly repay any overpayment if I become entitled to workers compensation and state disability benefits. Do you know what this may mean or is this part of the application process? Thanks

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    1. I haven’t heard of this form, but it is standard process that you are supposed to report these things to Social Security.

      So, perhaps your state is requiring people sign this to confirm, or maybe every state does this and I just hadn’t heard of it.

      I would not take it to mean anything – just that if you are getting other benefits, this may lower your backpay.

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  33. Hello, I had a hearing back in February, today I got a letter about a phone interview. What does this mean? No approval or denied letter

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  34. What does it mean when as calls you back an tells you that you don’t have to go to the ss doctor because they have enough records

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Sleepy girl, I sent in over 500 pages, VA Docs and I submitted my own RFC, they didn’t send me to Social Sec Dr saying all my records were enough to make a decision, so I am just hoping what you said is right cause it would be awesome to get approved

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  35. I applied for SSI disability for my son about a month ago and had a phone Interview the next week after I applied. All I’ve received so far is a thick packet with all the info I gave them and it said to look through the paperwork and if I disagreed with any of the info I told the interviewer to let them know within 10 days. I have not heard anything else since and I just received a direct express card in the mail… So my question is, does this mean my son was likely going to be approved? And how long will it take to get a decision from them?

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    1. Hi Angela, Getting a direct express card does seem like a good sign, but I cannot know for sure. Perhaps you can call your local office and see if you can find out more. I hope it goes well for you.

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      1. I sure hope so! Thank you so much for your response! I’ll try and give them a call next week sometime.
        Godbless!

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  36. Hi and thank you for all this info. I am waiting an Administrative Law Judge hearing and have an attorney. October 2017, I had a telephone interview with my attorney but my speech was so bad we had to reschedule (first week of November 2017). He had already requested my medical records from my doctors but apparently did not review them. I have been ill since 5/16 and after extensive evaluation and referrals to specialists, my neurologist diagnosed me with Multiple System Atrophy – C, 9/17. My attorney did not know what this was or that it is a Compassionate Allowance disease. I found this out from being on an online support group for MSA so I called and left a message and got an immediate phone call back. They want me the physical therapist I saw when this first started and have him fill out a form about my current limitations but I do not have the money for this. (I was a geriatric psych specialized RN an last worked 5/19/16 and have NO support, not married and have 3 young adult children who live in different cities. After depleting my savings I have been drawing down from my IRA’s to get by).
    The SSA information on MSA just says the neurologist has to diagnose,etc. so I don’t know why I need to do this. Also does the start date begin 5 months after I last worked or when I was officially diagnosed with MSA-C? Do you know the procedures for a Compassionate Allowance if you are waiting for a Admin Law Judge hearing. This is a progressive fatal illness and I am dealing with what is to come to…
    Thank you

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    1. Hi Liz,

      I am not aware of a specific procedure for compassionate allowance cases. Usually this happens earlier in the process.

      You could talk with your attorney to see if there is a way to get your case designated compassionate allowance now.

      You could also contact your congressperson and ask for their help – there is someone in the office who helps people with social security issues

      I think it may help to be very clear and specific about your request: you think social security made a policy mistake. they should have designated your case as compassionate allowance and did not do so. You would like them to inquire why your case was not designated this way and if it can be now.

      Congresspeople cannot influence a case, but if a policy mistake was made, they can inquire about it and sometimes this really helps.

      If it is possible, it can be very helpful to have a function form filled out about your limitations. Perhaps you could try asking your neurologist or primary care doctor to fill out this kind of form for you?

      You will not know the start date for the five months until after a decision is made. SSA will chose a date. It is often the date last worked, but not always.

      Hope this helps and hope it goes great for you.

      function forms:
      https://howtogeton.wordpress.com/2017/01/25/how-to-get-a-function-form/

      congressperson:
      https://howtogeton.wordpress.com/2017/01/21/how-to-get-help-from-congress/

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  37. I received a card in the mail and no judgement has been made on my SSDI. What does this mean? Thank you for your website, Gary

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