Expedited SSDI Claims: How Long Do They Really Take?

When you cannot work because of a disabling medical condition, the time it takes for the Social Security Administration to process your application for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits can seem like an eternity. You need money now, but the Social Security Administration estimates the time for processing your claim to be about six to eight months.  

The disability lawyers at Sackett and Associates understand your frustration and want to help. The Social Security Administration has programs for quick disability benefits approval for applicants who meet specific requirements. The information in this blog explains what it takes to get an expedited SSDI claim timeline and how to get additional guidance from a disability lawyer at Sackett Law.

SSDI Claim processing time

When you apply for disability benefits, the application first goes to a local field office of the Social Security Administration (SSA) for verification of non-medical requirements coverage under the SSDI program, including:

1. Employment history
2. Marital status
3. Age

After the field office review, the application goes to a Disability Determination Services (DDS) office. DDS offices are state agencies funded by the federal government.

DDS offices review a claimant’s medical evidence to determine whether the person is disabled or blind according to federal regulations. Once DDS reaches a decision about the claim, the file returns to the SSA field office, which sends a written notification to the applicant.

It takes about six to eight months for an initial determination of the claim. The length of time can be longer or shorter depending on factors such as:

1. The nature of the disability.
2. The time it takes for the DSS to obtain medical records from a claimant’s healthcare provider.
3. Whether the DDS decides it needs an additional medical examination by the claimant’s treating physician or by an independent medical practitioner.

A prompt response to a request for medical records or for a medical examination shortens the time it takes to process a claim. Disability lawyers understand the importance of making medical evidence available and promptly responding to requests by the DDS, so they coordinate with your healthcare providers and the DDS to prevent unnecessary delays.

Waiting six to eight months, or longer if a doctor’s office does not respond to a DDS request for your medical records, adds to the stress already associated with a complex and confusing claims process. However, a fast-track disability claim process may be possible depending on your specific circumstances.

Fast-Track Disability Claim Process

Some types of medical conditions meet standards for fast-track processing of claims. Quick Disability Determinations (QDD) and Compassionate Allowances (CAL) rely on technology to identify disability claims based on the most severe medical conditions.

Computer models screen applications for claims that are highly likely to be approved based on medical evidence. Identified claims could be processed within days rather than months.

The CAL program is based on a list of medical conditions considered by the SSA as severe enough to be highly likely to result in an approval of benefits. The primary difference between the QDD and CAL programs is that CAL relies on a list of conditions, while QDD screens applications using computers to find those meeting specific medical criteria.

The list of CAL conditions is extensive. Some of the conditions on it include the following:

1. Acute Leukemia
2. Adult Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
3. Adult-onset Huntington’s Disease
4. Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
5. Bladder cancer
6. Mestastized, inoperable, or unresectable breast cancer
7. Gallbladder cancer
8. Thyroid cancer

The list grows longer all the time as additional conditions for the SSDI compassionate allowance program are identified and added.

Expedited processing may be available for claimants who allege the existence of a dire financial need that prevents them from having the means to pay for food, shelter, medical care, and medication. A dire need designation results in the claim receiving expedited processing. How long expedited processing takes can vary depending on the availability of medical evidence supporting the claim and other factors.

Steps To Take To Speed Up The Processing Time Of An SSDI Claim

Applications for SSDI benefits must be supported by medical documentation proving the existence of a disabling medical condition. You can avoid processing delays by ensuring that your records are current, complete, and prove the disabling conditions you list in the application.

Another way to avoid processing delays is to take time to prepare an application that is complete and free of errors. An accurate application that provides detailed information about your medical condition, including symptoms that affect your ability to do work activities, can speed up the time it takes to process the claim.

Speak To The Disability Professionals At Sackett Law

Disability lawyers at Sackett and Associates have been assisting individuals in Northern California and nationwide with all aspects of the SSDI claims process, from initial applications to appeals. Learn more during a free consultation and claim evaluation by contacting Sackett Law today.

Sources:

1. SSDI claim process: https://www.ssa.gov/disability/determination.htm
2. Processing time: https://www.ssa.gov/ssa-performance
3. Fast-track claims:  https://www.ssa.gov/disabilityresearch/qdd.htm