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Someone asked me this question a long time ago. What can slow down the processing of your social security disability case? Now, of course, the answer to the question really depends on what stage of the process disability cases are sitting at. In this instance, the questioner had just filed an application for social security disability several days earlier. And my answer went something like this: Disability applications tend to receive a decision within three to four months. That doesn't always turn out to be the case, but, in general terms, its a good benchmark. What can hold a case up and delay the receipt of a disability decision? Probably the most heinous reason would be that the claim was never transmitted from the social security office---where an individual filed for benefits---to the state disability agency (where decisions are made by a disability examiner). You'd be surprised how often this type of thing happens. Fortunately, the actual percentage-occurrence of this happening tends to be low. For most initial claims (meaning applications), the real holdup is when the file is parked in a disability examiner's cubicle and is going nowhere fast because the examiner is still waiting on medical records to be received. You can't really blame the examiner for this. Ideally, every disability examiner who works on adjudicating disability claims for the social security administration would like to get them cleared within a week of receiving them. Because how fast examiners process cases is one of the key factors by which their job performance is evaluated. Unfortunately, many hospitals and doctors are just very slow when it comes to processing medical record requests. Other factors for slowing down a disability case actually have to do with disability claimants themselves and here's a short list: 1. Not providing proper information on a disability application (such as contact information for medical sources). 2. Failing to respond to correspondence sent by a disability examiner (if a disability examiner has a question, they may send you a "call-in" letter asking you to call back). You should respond to letters quickly to avoid slowdowns. 3. Failing to provide requested information. In other words, if you are sent a questionaire, complete it and return it quickly. 4. Failing to go to a scheduled social security disability medical examination (you'd be surprised at how many people fail to do this). Failing to go to a consultative exam, as they're called, can add an unnecessary delay on a case because the exam then has to be rescheduled. So, if you get an appointment letter, make sure you go to the exam. And if the exam date conflicts with your schedule, call the examiner and ask for a rescheduled appointment immediately. 
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