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HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET DISABILITY BENEFITS?

NEWS FLASH -- 11/17/17 -  The waiting time for a hearing out of the Florence, AL ODAR has now hit 20 months!

You have suddenly become disabled and can't work.  Your income has stopped but expenses continue:  medical bills, mortgage, utilities...they never end.  You apply for Social Security disability benefits but start to get the idea this could take a really long time.  What's a realistic time frame to get benefits started?

Initial Application Period.  It usually takes 90 to 120 days to get an initial decision from Social Security.  They have to write to all your doctors, get medical records, review them and have one of their medical experts review the evidence.  A typical disability examiner is working about 80 cases at a time.  So, it takes a while.  The chances on an initial disability application--based strictly on state averages are as follows (approximately):

 Approvals    29 percent
Denials        71 percent

Appeal Level (Hearing) - based on Alabama averages

 If your claim is denied and needs a hearing, the wait to get a hearing in North Alabama (Florence OHO) is now 20 months!  The state average for hearings is approximately as follows:


Approved     49 percent
Denied         31 percent
Dismissed    21 percent  

Can Your Attorney/Representative Make It Happen Sooner?

Probably not, because Social Security assigns hearing dates based on the date the appeal was filed.  In short, they don't permit one claimant to cut in line in front of someone else.  Rare exceptions occur for persons with terminal illness or other dire needs.  Since nearly all claimants consider themselves in "dire need," the rules for getting a quicker hearing are very strict.  Attorneys do not have power to make Social Security move quickly.
      


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