Disability benefits are typically only available to those who cannot work at all. People frequently exhaust their alternate options before seeking disability benefits. Professionals applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits may have been off of work for weeks by the time they apply.
They may have emptied their savings accounts or run up their credit card balances. Unfortunately, quite a few people who apply get rejected instead of approved. Even those with truly debilitating medical conditions may not receive a positive response when they initially apply. They may need to appeal to secure benefits. Many people despair at the thought of appealing because they worry about the state of their finances.
How long does an SSDI appeal typically take to complete?
Every appeal is inherently unique
Just as every professional’s work history and medical challenges differ from the issues affecting the next applicant, every SSDI appeal is unique as well. However, the vast majority of SSDI appeals follow the same approximate process.
Appeals begin by submitting a request to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Applicants have an opportunity to correct mistakes in the paperwork they submitted and to obtain additional medical documentation. After correcting errors in paperwork and securing additional medical evidence, the reconsideration process begins.
Those approved during reconsideration can potentially get their benefits in a matter of weeks after their initial denial. Reconsideration is only successful with a small percentage of cases. Many people need to present their case in front of an administrative law judge to secure SSDI benefits during an appeal.
How long it takes to secure a hearing differs significantly depending on the office handling the case. The Greensboro SSA office currently averages an eight-month wait for a hearing in front of an administrative law judge. In rare cases where applicants decide to take the matter to the Appeals Council or federal court after an unsuccessful hearing, the process could take multiple years to complete.
There are backdated benefits available
Waiting for months to obtain SSDI benefits can multiply the financial strain on someone who cannot work. If the appeal is successful, the applicant may be able to obtain backdated benefits. The SSA may provide them with a lump-sum payment for the benefits they could have received if the SSA approved them when they initially applied for benefits.
Those funds can help applicants pay their past-due bills and cover medical costs. Appeals can take quite some time to complete, so an applicant may need a plan to cover their expenses in the meantime. Securing assistance during SSDI appeals can help people improve their chances of success.
Those with proper guidance may find it easier to plan to cover their costs during an SSDI appeal. They can focus on maintaining their household as the legal professional they’ve hired focuses on the appeals process.