How long after SSDI hearing does Social Security take to make a decision? Still waiting after 2 months

my decision took almost 11 weeks after the hearing. SSDI system is sooooo slow. The waiting is the worst part cuz ur just stuck not knowing wat to do. My lawyer told me anything from 2-4 months is normal these days. Hang in there!

11 weeks? Ugh, that's so discouraging. Did you end up getting approved at least? I'm just worried the longer it takes, the worse it is for my case.

The timeframe varies considerably depending on your location and the ALJ's caseload. The national average is currently about 60-90 days from hearing to decision, but some hearing offices are taking up to 120 days. The delay doesn't necessarily indicate a denial - sometimes approvals take longer because the judge has to determine onset date and calculate back benefits.You can request a status update from the hearing office in writing. While it probably won't expedite the process, it creates a record of your inquiry. If you're experiencing dire financial hardship (eviction, utilities being cut off, inability to afford medications), you can request a dire need expedite, but these are granted sparingly.

Thank you for that information! I didn't know about requesting a status update in writing - I'll definitely try that. I'm not quite at the dire need stage yet, but getting close. Really hoping I hear something in the next few weeks.

I went through this last year. The wait after the hearing was brutal - took about 70 days for me to get my decision. One thing that helped me was checking the status through my MySocialSecurity account. Sometimes it will update there before you receive the official letter.Also, in my experience, the delay had absolutely nothing to do with whether it was an approval or denial (mine was approved). It's just that the ALJs have to write up detailed explanations for their decisions, and they're handling hundreds of cases.If you're really struggling financially while waiting, check if your state has any temporary disability assistance programs. Some states offer emergency assistance while SSDI claims are pending.

Thanks for the suggestion about checking my online account. I've been checking it almost daily but no changes yet. I'm in Florida and unfortunately, they don't seem to have much in the way of temporary assistance while waiting. I'm glad to hear the delay didn't mean bad news in your case!

The judge HAS to write up his decision and then it goes to theses ppl called decision writers who draft everything up all formal-like. Then it goes BACK to the judge for review. Then to another person who does quality review. Then finally to the ppl who actually mail it out. Each step takes forever!!!!!! Its like they WANT us to suffer while waiting.

Exactly! And don't forget that they're still understaffed from the pandemic. My cousin works for SSA (not disability, but still) and says they have like half the staff they need. The whole system is designed to make people give up, I swear.

Have you tried using Claimyr to reach someone at Social Security? I was stuck in a similar situation (though mine was post-approval payment issues) and couldn't get through on the phone for weeks. Someone here recommended Claimyr.com and they got me through to a live SSA agent in about 20 minutes. There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent I spoke with was able to see notes on my file that weren't visible in my online account. Might be worth trying if you're desperate for an update on your case status.

I've never heard of this service, but I'm definitely going to look into it. At this point, I'd try anything to get some information. Even if they just tell me \

I used that Claimyr thing too. worked great but the lady I got still couldn't tell me much about my case lol. said it was

I waited 4 months after my hearing and got denied anyway!! The whole system is rigged against us. My lawyer said most people get denied the first time no matter what. Now I'm on my second appeal and wait will be even longer. Don't get your hopes up, they make everyone wait forever then deny them anyway.

While it's true that initial applications have a high denial rate (about 65-70%), the approval rate at the ALJ hearing level is much better - around 50%. It varies significantly by judge though, some ALJs approve over 70% of cases while others approve less than 30%. If you're working with a reputable disability attorney, they should be familiar with the judges in your hearing office and their approval tendencies.

While you're waiting, make sure all your medical records are up to date. If you've had any new treatments, doctor visits, or medication changes since your hearing, have your lawyer submit these updates. Sometimes this can actually help speed up a decision if they were waiting on more evidence.Also, check if your congressperson's office can help. They sometimes have liaisons who can inquire about the status of your claim. I didn't try this personally, but I've heard it works for some people.

That's a great point about the medical records. I did have a follow-up with my pain management doctor last week. I'll definitely ask my lawyer to submit that update. And I hadn't thought about contacting my congressperson - might try that if another month goes by with no news.

btw dont think bad news just cuz its taking forever. my friend got approved but waited like 4 months after hearing. i got denied and only waited 6 weeks. its random i think

Thanks for sharing that - it helps to know there's really no pattern to it. The uncertainty is just so hard to deal with.