How Long Does Social Security Disability Review Take?
Once you have applied for Social Security Disability, the next question is: how long does Social Security disability review take? If you haven’t, you can start your application by visiting https://secure.ssa.gov/iClaim/Ent002Submit.do.
There are two types of reviews. The first is the initial review of your disability application and the other is called a continuing disability review. The latter is conducted after you have been receiving your disability benefits.
The two are separate processes.
How Long Does Social Security Disability Review Take Initially?
For the initial process, in most cases, it can take anywhere from 3 to 5 months for the applicant to receive a decision on their disability application. In the event that your initial application is denied, you may reapply or apply for reconsideration.
When you apply for reconsideration, the Social Security representative who handled your case will be asked to review and reconsider their initial decision. At this stage, you are allowed to submit any new document that serves as evidence of your eligibility for disability that you may not have been able to submit in your initial application. This reconsideration could also take 3 to 5 months to process.
What is a Continuing Disability Review?
To avoid confusion, let us clarify how the continuing disability review is different from the initial review of your application.
The continuing disability review is a periodic review conducted by the Social Security office to evaluate your condition and ensure that you still qualify for your disability benefits. When it’s time for your periodic review, you will receive a form in the mail that you would have to fill out and send back. This can either be a short form or a long form disability report.
After you send back the form, it typically takes 1 to 2 months for Social Security to review your case. Most disability benefits recipients are approved for continuing benefits after this process.
How to Check Your Status
To check your status once you have filed your initial application for Social Security disability benefits, you can create a “My Social Security” account online at www.socialsecurity.gov. Once your account is active and verified, you can log in and view the status of your completed application at any time.
You can also call the Social Security toll free number for more information about your case at 1-800-772-1213. The automated services on that line can also answer the question, how long does Social Security disability review take?
