Social Security Disability Deadlines
The topic of deadlines as they relate to social security disability comes up fairly often. Mainly, however, the subject is addressed due to false assumptions by applicants regarding the processing of initial disability applications.
Unlike various programs operated by state and local governments, SSD applications and SSI applications do not have processing deadlines. In other words, after you apply for disability, your claim may take one month to process...or five months to process. There is simply no time limit on how long a claim may inevitably take, though its safe to say that the averages quoted by the social security administration are fairly accurate. As a disability examiner, I found that most cases were usually decided within a three to four month time frame following the filing of a claim.
Of course, it bears mentioning that the one factor that accounts for the most processing time on a case, and the longest delays, is the wait for medical records. Social security makes every attempt to get a claimant's medical records so that a decision can be made as fast as possible. In fact, as soon as a case lands on a disability claim examiner's desk, the examiner's first primary task will be to send out requests for records to every medical treatment source listed by a claimant on their disability application.
However, in the end, however long it takes for a doctor's office or hospital to comply with the request and send records back...is entirely up to them.
As an examiner, I found that it was not unusual to have to make repeated calls to medical records departments and repeatedly fax over the same request for records multiple times. Working in representation, I found that the difficulties in obtaining records were no less, though some doctor's offices seemed to respond more quickly to followup calls from the office of a disability representative (not always the case, certainly).
So, back to the topic, are there deadlines for social security disability and SSI disability applications? No, there are not.
However, in an unofficial sense, there are deadlines of a type. And what I mean by that is this: each disability examiner who works on SSD and SSI claims is rated according to how fast they process cases. And the more cases they have that are "getting older" (often, not due to the examiner's fault), the worse it looks for the examiner's statistics.
Therefore, disability examiners have every clear incentive to get decisions made as quickly as possible. So, while there are no official deadlines on the the processing of disability claims, each disability examiner is expending effort to get cases off their desk ASAP.
This brings up, of course, the subject of what a claimant can do to help speed their case along. And that's fairly simple:
1. Always respond to correspondence related to a disability case. This includes letters from the social security office and letters from the disability examiner who is attempting to make a decision on the claim. Sometimes, failing to respond to a request for information can add significant time to the processing of a case.
2. Always report new information regarding treatment sources, diagnoses, and work activity to social security.
3. Always go to scheduled social security medical exams. Failing to do so can, at the very least, add significant amounts of processing time to a case. And, typically, for no good reason (failing to have transportation to a consultative exam is not the best reason for missing an appointment considering how long claimants are notified in advance that they have a medical exam scheduled).
4. Supply complete and detailed information when initially filing for disability.
It's extraordinary to think about it, but many claimants file an application for disability with only the barest details about their work history and medical treatment history. It's almost as if they seem to think that the social security administration has a crystal ball into which it can look and glean all the information that is required. However, that's not the case and if you give incomplete information when you apply for disability, you only disadvantage your claim by doing so.
Return to:
Social Security Disability Secrets
Social Security Disability Benefits Questions
Additional Posts
How do you prepare for a social security disability review?
Continuing disability review for social security disability
How often will my case be reviewed for social security disability?
Social security disability appeal
How to get a social security disability hearing scheduled faster
How to request a social security disability hearing
Social Security Disability Appeals Process
Filing for Disability
Filing for disability as soon as you are eligible
Unlike various programs operated by state and local governments, SSD applications and SSI applications do not have processing deadlines. In other words, after you apply for disability, your claim may take one month to process...or five months to process. There is simply no time limit on how long a claim may inevitably take, though its safe to say that the averages quoted by the social security administration are fairly accurate. As a disability examiner, I found that most cases were usually decided within a three to four month time frame following the filing of a claim.
Of course, it bears mentioning that the one factor that accounts for the most processing time on a case, and the longest delays, is the wait for medical records. Social security makes every attempt to get a claimant's medical records so that a decision can be made as fast as possible. In fact, as soon as a case lands on a disability claim examiner's desk, the examiner's first primary task will be to send out requests for records to every medical treatment source listed by a claimant on their disability application.
However, in the end, however long it takes for a doctor's office or hospital to comply with the request and send records back...is entirely up to them.
As an examiner, I found that it was not unusual to have to make repeated calls to medical records departments and repeatedly fax over the same request for records multiple times. Working in representation, I found that the difficulties in obtaining records were no less, though some doctor's offices seemed to respond more quickly to followup calls from the office of a disability representative (not always the case, certainly).
So, back to the topic, are there deadlines for social security disability and SSI disability applications? No, there are not.
However, in an unofficial sense, there are deadlines of a type. And what I mean by that is this: each disability examiner who works on SSD and SSI claims is rated according to how fast they process cases. And the more cases they have that are "getting older" (often, not due to the examiner's fault), the worse it looks for the examiner's statistics.
Therefore, disability examiners have every clear incentive to get decisions made as quickly as possible. So, while there are no official deadlines on the the processing of disability claims, each disability examiner is expending effort to get cases off their desk ASAP.
This brings up, of course, the subject of what a claimant can do to help speed their case along. And that's fairly simple:
1. Always respond to correspondence related to a disability case. This includes letters from the social security office and letters from the disability examiner who is attempting to make a decision on the claim. Sometimes, failing to respond to a request for information can add significant time to the processing of a case.
2. Always report new information regarding treatment sources, diagnoses, and work activity to social security.
3. Always go to scheduled social security medical exams. Failing to do so can, at the very least, add significant amounts of processing time to a case. And, typically, for no good reason (failing to have transportation to a consultative exam is not the best reason for missing an appointment considering how long claimants are notified in advance that they have a medical exam scheduled).
4. Supply complete and detailed information when initially filing for disability.
It's extraordinary to think about it, but many claimants file an application for disability with only the barest details about their work history and medical treatment history. It's almost as if they seem to think that the social security administration has a crystal ball into which it can look and glean all the information that is required. However, that's not the case and if you give incomplete information when you apply for disability, you only disadvantage your claim by doing so.
Return to:
Additional Posts
How do you prepare for a social security disability review?
Continuing disability review for social security disability
How often will my case be reviewed for social security disability?
Social security disability appeal
How to get a social security disability hearing scheduled faster
How to request a social security disability hearing
Social Security Disability Appeals Process
Filing for Disability
Filing for disability as soon as you are eligible
Labels: social security disability claim
