How Long Does SSDI Reconsideration Take? What the Wait Means
By Mason ArnaoPublished
By Mason ArnaoReviewed by Mason Arnao
The answer to “how long does SSDI reconsideration take?” is about 201 days on average right now, or roughly six and a half months from filing to decision. Social Security’s own performance data shows the average fell to 201 days in September 2026, down from 236 days a year earlier, and the number of reconsiderations waiting for a decision dropped from about 371,000 to about 297,000.
That 201-day figure is an average, not a promise. Your own decision could arrive sooner or later depending on your medical records, how quickly evidence comes in, and the details of your case. The wait can feel long, especially if you’re managing your health and your bills at the same time. Knowing what’s happening behind the scenes can make it easier to plan and to spot any steps you can take.
This guide covers what Social Security does during reconsideration and why it takes months, when your clock starts, what can speed up or slow down a decision, how to check where your request stands, and what comes next if reconsideration is denied.
The short answer: about 201 days on average right now
If you asked Social Security to reconsider a denied SSDI claim, expect to wait roughly six and a half months for a decision. According to Social Security’s performance dashboard, the average reconsideration processing time was 201 days in September 2026, down from 236 days in September 2025.
The backlog is also shrinking. Over the same period, the number of reconsiderations waiting for a decision fell from about 371,000 to about 297,000.
| Measure | September 2025 | September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Average reconsideration processing time | 236 days | 201 days |
| Pending reconsiderations | About 371,000 | About 297,000 |
Fewer cases in line and a shorter average wait are good signs. But 201 days is a national average, not a promise. Some reconsiderations are decided well before that mark, and others take longer. The rest of this guide explains what happens to your file during the wait, what can speed it up or slow it down, and how to check where it stands.
If you want to see where reconsideration fits in the whole process, from the first application to a hearing and beyond, read our full guide to filing an SSDI claim and the appeals ladder. Your denial letter may not make clear which program you applied for. If so, our guide on how SSDI and SSI differ and whether you can get both can help you work that out before you plan your next steps.
What actually happens during reconsideration (and why it takes months)
Reconsideration is not a quick second glance at the denial. Social Security describes it as a complete review of your claim by someone who did not take part in the first decision. That reviewer looks at all the evidence from your original decision, along with any new evidence you or your doctors send in. Because your claim gets a full review from someone new, the process is thorough, and that thoroughness is a large part of why it takes months.
Why new evidence affects the timeline
New evidence can strengthen your claim, but gathering it takes time. Clinics and hospitals have to locate, copy, and send records, and the reviewer cannot finish until those records arrive. The more providers involved, the more requests are outstanding at once. Sending records you already have, and giving accurate contact details for every provider, can help keep your file moving.
When your file needs more medical information
Sometimes the records on file do not fully show how your condition limits you. Our guide explains why SSA may send you to its own doctor for a consultative exam and how to prepare. If you receive an appointment letter, try to attend. Scheduling and waiting for the exam report can add time, and missing the appointment can leave gaps in your file.
What you can do while you wait
- Keep going to your regular treatment. Ongoing visits create fresh records that show your current condition, so your file stays up to date while it is under review.
- Keep a simple log. Write down new diagnoses, medication changes, hospital stays, and new providers so you can report them accurately.
- Save copies. Keep copies of everything you send and everything Social Security sends you.
When the clock starts: your 60-day window and filing date
Your reconsideration wait doesn’t begin when you get the denial letter. It begins when Social Security receives your written request for reconsideration. Under federal rules, SSA reconsiders an initial determination when you file a written request within 60 days after you receive the notice. Until that request is filed, nothing is moving.
How the 60 days are counted
You might wonder how SSA knows when the letter reached you. Its appeals booklet explains that SSA assumes you received the letter five days after the date printed on it, unless you can show you got it later. In practice:
- Start with the date on the letter, not the day you opened it.
- Add five days for SSA’s assumed delivery.
- Count 60 days from there to find your deadline.
- If the letter arrived late, keep anything that shows when it actually reached you.
If you’ve already missed the deadline
A late filing puts your appeal at risk, but it isn’t automatically the end. The same federal rule lets you ask for more time. The request has to be in writing, and it has to explain why you couldn’t file on time. Be specific and honest about what happened.
Does filing early help?
Filing early in your 60-day window won’t move you ahead of people who filed before you. What it does is start your review sooner. Every week you wait to file is a week added to the total time before you get an answer.
If you’re weighing whether this appeal is worth the wait, it may help to understand how many times you can appeal an SSDI denial and what each level involves.
What can make your reconsideration faster or slower
No one can predict exactly how long your reconsideration will take. Two things are most likely to affect where your file lands: how complete your evidence is, and whether your case is flagged as a terminal illness.
Waiting on medical records or new evidence
Reconsideration is a fresh look at your claim. According to SSA’s guide to the appeals process, the reviewer looks at all the evidence from the first decision plus any new evidence you submit. That thorough review helps you, but it also means your file can sit while SSA waits for records to come in.
Steps that can help keep things moving:
- List every provider you have seen since your first application, including new doctors, clinics, hospitals and therapists.
- Send new records as soon as you have them rather than holding them to send all at once.
- Tell SSA about new treatment or test results so the reviewer knows to ask for them.
- Keep copies of everything you send and note the date you sent it.
Terminal illness (TERI) cases
If your condition is terminal, SSA policy calls for faster handling. Under SSA’s operating policy for terminal illness (TERI) cases, these claims are expedited at each step of the disability process, and the state disability agency develops and decides them as a priority. That includes reconsideration.
The same policy adds a safeguard. If reconsideration upholds the denial in a TERI case, that decision gets a special review before it becomes final.
SSA’s policy does not promise a specific number of days for TERI cases. It also does not promise any particular outcome. If you believe your case should be treated as TERI but you are not sure it has been flagged, ask SSA directly. If you would like help sorting out your evidence or your options, Legal Lawsuit can point you toward next steps.
How to check where your reconsideration stands
You can check your reconsideration online for free. Social Security says that people with a pending reconsideration or hearing request can sign in to or create a my Social Security account to check their status. The status page shows details about your request, including the date it was filed.
That filing date matters. It confirms that Social Security has your request on record, and it gives you a fixed starting point for measuring how long you have been waiting.
Simple habits that protect you while you wait
- Check your status now and then. Look at your account occasionally so you know your request is still in the system and still marked as pending.
- Write down your filing date. Keep it with your other claim papers. It is useful if you ever need to call or visit Social Security about your case.
- Keep every notice Social Security mails you. Store letters in one folder, in the order they arrive. Each one may include instructions or a deadline that affects your next step.
- Keep your address current. If you move, tell Social Security right away. A letter sent to an old address could mean you miss a deadline without knowing it.
Official letters can be confusing, especially when you are already dealing with a health condition. If a notice arrives and you are not sure what it means, Legal Lawsuit’s SSDI guides explain each stage in plain language. They can help you understand what the letter is telling you and what Social Security may expect from you next.
If reconsideration is denied: the next step and the next wait
A denial at reconsideration does not end your claim. If you disagree with the decision, the next step is to ask for a hearing. According to SSA’s guide to the four levels of the Social Security appeals process, the hearing is held by an administrative law judge who had no part in the earlier decisions on your claim. That gives you a fresh decision-maker, just as reconsideration did.
The deadline to ask for a hearing
The same SSA publication explains that you generally have 60 days from the time you receive the reconsideration notice to request the next level of appeal. This is the same window you had for reconsideration, and the same rule applies for counting when your letter was received. Keep your notice somewhere safe and write the deadline on your calendar as soon as it arrives.
How long hearings are taking
Hearings are moving in the opposite direction from reconsiderations. SSA’s performance dashboard shows the average hearing processing time went from 278 days in September 2025 to 287 days in September 2026. These are averages, and your own wait may be shorter or longer.
| Measure (SSA dashboard) | September 2025 | September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Average hearing processing time | 278 days | 287 days |
Using the wait well
A hearing is the first stage where you typically speak directly with the person deciding your claim. Many people find it helps to use the waiting months to keep up with medical treatment and gather updated records. For a step-by-step guide, see our article on preparing for an SSDI hearing before a judge. To see how the hearing fits with the stages that can come after it, our SSDI appeal roadmap from reconsideration to federal court walks through each level in order.
Keep researching on Legal Lawsuit
Frequently asked questions
How long does SSDI reconsideration take on average?
Right now, about 201 days. Social Security’s performance data on reconsideration and hearing processing times shows that the average reconsideration took 201 days in September 2026, down from 236 days a year earlier. Pending reconsiderations also dropped, from about 371,000 to about 297,000. For comparison, the average hearing took 287 days in September 2026, up from 278 days.
An average describes many cases, not yours specifically. Your own reconsideration may finish sooner or later than that figure, so use it as a rough planning guide rather than a firm date.
Does the reconsideration wait start from the date on my denial letter?
Not exactly. Under the federal rule on requesting reconsideration, you have 60 days after you receive the notice to ask in writing. If you need more time, you must ask for an extension in writing and explain why. Social Security assumes you received the letter 5 days after the date printed on it.
The processing time covers the review itself, which can’t begin until your request is in. That means filing early in your window lets your review start sooner.
Can my reconsideration be sped up if I’m terminally ill?
Yes, if your claim is treated as a terminal illness (TERI) case. Under SSA’s operating instructions for TERI cases, these claims are expedited at each step of the disability process, and the state disability agency develops and decides them as a priority. If a reconsideration upholds a denial on a TERI case, that decision gets an extra special review. If a doctor has described your condition as terminal, tell Social Security.
How do I check the status of my pending reconsideration?
You can check a pending reconsideration online through a my Social Security account’s application status tool. The status display shows the date your request was filed. Write that date down. It helps you track how long you’ve been waiting, and it gives you a reference point when you contact Social Security. If the filing date shown doesn’t match your records, raise it with Social Security.
How long will I wait for a hearing if reconsideration is denied?
Your next step would be to request a hearing, and that stage has its own wait. The SSA figures in the first answer show that hearings currently take longer on average than reconsideration. The hearing average also rose over the past year, even as reconsideration times came down. Plan for the hearing stage to be a long stretch of its own, not a quick follow-up.
If you’d like help understanding what the hearing stage involves for your situation, Legal Lawsuit can point you toward information about your options and next steps.
Sources
- Social Security performance · U.S. Social Security Administration · 2026-10
- 20 CFR 404.909 – How to request reconsideration · Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR)
- The Appeals Process (SSA Publication No. 05-10041) · U.S. Social Security Administration
- Check the Status of your Social Security Application · U.S. Social Security Administration
- POMS DI 23020.045 – Terminal Illness (TERI) Cases · U.S. Social Security Administration (Program Operations Manual System) · 2023-10-06
This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws and deadlines vary by state and change over time; check the linked sources or speak with a licensed attorney about your situation.
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