What is the average time to get approved for disability?

by Tim Moore. Free Case Evaluation for North Carolina Residents here.

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There is no way to definitively know this answer. And here’s the reason: the answer is different depending on the state you live in, or the year in which we are asking the question. That said, most individuals who start a claim and finally get approved will probably have to invest a minimum of a year to a year and a half in the process. However, this isn’t true for every case. Nearly one out of three people will get approved on their application.

How long it will take to get a decision on a disability application?

After you apply, you will likely get an answer within three to four months.

But…

Getting an answer on your claim is not always the same as getting approved

This is because most claims are not initially approved. So, even though you may get a decision on your claim somewhere between three and four months, the answer has a 70 percent chance of being a denial. That still means that close to one out of three people will get approved on their first try, though.

How long does it take to get approved on average?

Here’s what I would consider a reliable answer, for most applicants. Your application will take 3-4 months, and it will likely be denied; you will have to file a reconsideration appeal which will take between 1-3 months, and it will likely be denied; you will then have to request a disability hearing and that will take between 5 months to a year to get a hearing date. If you are not represented, you probably have a 40 percent chance of being approved.

If you have a disability lawyer or a disability representative, then you have about a 60 percent chance of being approved, maybe 70 percent if you have a very good representative.

And here is something most applicants need to keep in mind

The odds may be against you when you file your disability application, but the individuals who do not give up after being denied generally have a very good chance of being approved and awarded disability benefits. The key is to utilize the appeal process, and keep pushing forward.