SSDI Wait Times by Stage: Initial Claim, Reconsideration and Hearing
By Mason ArnaoPublished
By Mason ArnaoReviewed by Mason Arnao
Right now the average SSDI disability claim takes about 185 days at the initial stage, about 201 days at reconsideration, and about 287 days at the hearing stage, based on Social Security’s published performance data for September 2026. Those are national averages for each stage separately, not a promise for any one claim.
SSDI processing times by stage, September 2026
| Stage | Average processing time, Sept 2025 | Average processing time, Sept 2026 | Cases waiting, Sept 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial disability claim | 209 days | 185 days | About 911,000 (885,000 a year earlier) |
| Reconsideration | 236 days | 201 days | About 297,000 (371,000 a year earlier) |
| Hearing before an administrative law judge | 278 days | 287 days | 358,000 (about 281,000 a year earlier) |
Source: Social Security’s published performance data, checked on October 29, 2026. Social Security also reports a fiscal-year 2026 hearing-level average of 270 days, which it describes as 14 days faster than fiscal year 2025. That figure covers a different period than the monthly numbers above, so do not compare the two directly.
What the numbers show
Two of the three stages got faster over the past year. Initial claims fell by 24 days and reconsiderations by 35 days, and the reconsideration backlog dropped by about 74,000 cases. The hearing stage moved the other way: the average rose from 278 to 287 days and the number of cases waiting grew by roughly 77,000. In plain terms, a claimant who is denied and appeals to a hearing is waiting in the longest line.
Why you cannot simply add the stages together
It is tempting to add 185, 201 and 287 days to estimate a total. That does not work. Each figure is an average for cases decided at that stage in that month, and most claims never reach every stage: some are approved at the initial decision, and others stop after reconsideration. A claim that does go through all three can take longer or shorter than the sum, and your own wait depends on your state, your medical evidence and how complete your file is when it arrives.
What these averages do not tell you
- Your own timeline. A national average hides large differences between offices and hearing locations.
- The time before a stage starts. The deadline to appeal is separate from the processing time. You generally have 60 days from the date you receive a notice to ask for the next review, as explained in the SSDI appeal roadmap.
- Whether you will win. Processing time says nothing about the odds of approval at any stage.
What you can do while you wait
Keep your medical records and contact details current with Social Security, answer any request for information promptly, and check your status online. The guide on how long SSDI reconsideration takes covers what happens to your file during the wait, and how many times you can appeal an SSDI denial explains the four review levels. If a representative helps with your claim, SSDI attorney fees explains how the fee cap works and how the representative is paid from back pay.
Frequently asked questions
How often does this page change?
Social Security updates its performance figures monthly. We refresh the table when new figures are published and change the date shown above.
Are these numbers for every state?
No. They are national averages. Processing is handled by state agencies at the initial and reconsideration stages and by hearing offices at the hearing stage, so local waits vary.
Does a faster average mean my claim will be decided sooner?
Not necessarily. An average describes many cases at once. A complete file with current medical evidence is within your control and can help avoid avoidable delays.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by reading it. Legal Lawsuit is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration.
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