Initial Application Processing Time

After you submit your application for SSDI or SSI benefits, it generally takes the Social Security Administration (SSA) about three to five months to process your claim. During this time, the SSA will review your application, evaluate your medical condition, and determine whether you meet the eligibility criteria.

Factors that can affect processing time:

• Completeness of your application: If your application is missing information or documents, the SSA may request additional documentation, which could delay the decision.
• Medical evidence: The SSA will need to assess your medical records, and if more tests or evidence are required, this could lengthen the processing time.
• Work history: The SSA will review your work history to determine whether you’ve worked long enough to qualify for SSDI. Any issues with your work history may slow down the process.

Disability Determination Process

Once you submit your application, it will be sent to your local Disability Determination Services (DDS) office in Illinois. DDS will evaluate your medical condition and determine if it qualifies as a disability under SSA guidelines.

This step typically involves:

• Medical exams or consultative exams: In some cases, the SSA may request additional tests or evaluations from a third-party doctor to assess the severity of your condition. This can add more time to the process.

The typical timeline for a decision at this stage is three to five months, but it can take longer if additional information is required.

If Your Claim is Denied – The Appeals Process

It’s common for SSDI and SSI claims to be denied during the initial review, even if you have a valid claim. If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal the decision. The appeal process can take additional time, and it involves the following steps:

• Request for Reconsideration: If your initial claim is denied, you can request a reconsideration, which means the SSA will review your case again. This process usually takes three to five months but could take longer depending on the complexity of your case.
• Hearing Before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ): If your reconsideration is denied, you can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). This is a crucial step, and the waiting time for a hearing can be significant. In Illinois, the wait time for an ALJ hearing can range from 12 to 18 months or longer, depending on the backlog in your local area.
• Appeals Council Review: If the ALJ denies your claim, you can request a review by the Appeals Council. This process can take additional months, typically around 6 to 12 months, depending on the specific case.

Average Wait Times in Illinois

• Initial Decision: The initial decision on your SSDI or SSI claim typically takes three to five months.
• Reconsideration (if denied): This process takes around three to five months.
• Hearing with an ALJ: If you need to attend a hearing, the waiting time can be 12 to 18 months, or even longer in some areas of Illinois due to a backlog.
• Appeals Council: If your claim is further appealed, the process could take an additional 6 to 12 months.

Ways to Speed Up the Process

There are a few circumstances under which the SSA may speed up the review of your claim:

• Compassionate Allowances: If your condition is on the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances list, it may be processed more quickly. These are conditions that are so severe that they clearly meet the SSA’s definition of disability. Examples include certain types of cancer, early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and other life-threatening conditions.
• Expedited Processing for Terminal Illness (TERI): If you are terminally ill, you may qualify for TERI processing, which expedites the decision process.
• Dire Need: If you are experiencing severe financial hardship or homelessness, you can request dire need status, which may expedite your case.