Is a long wait after the Social Security hearing a bad sign?
While many Social Security disability hearings in Colorado have decisions issued in 45 to 90 days, some cases wait for four, five, even six months without a decision.
I was recently asked if a long wait after a hearing is a bad sign?
I previously wrote about my experience with how long it takes to get a decision after a Social Security hearing. Many lawyers who have been doing Social Security cases for a while can’t help but notice that the longer it takes to get a decision, the greater the chances that the case will be denied. However, that is not the whole story. Here is my take on this issue.
Super fast Social Security disability benefits
One of my readers asked:
I had my hearing 2 weeks ago in Denver. The judge made an immediate favorable decision. My lawyer told me that most people get their benefits before they even receive the decision. I’m waiting patiently.
Congratulations on the win!
I have written about how long it takes after a hearing to get a decision, as well as my experience with how long it takes to actually get the benefits.
Personally, I have never seen benefits paid before the receiving a decision.
However, I have started to see some cases where a client receives a letter from the local Social Security office scheduling an appointment …
How long after a consultative examination does it take to get a decision?
I was recently asked how long after Social Security sends you to a doctor for a consultative examination will it take to get a decision.
I previously wrote about how long it takes to receive an initial decision after you apply for Social Security disability benefits and how long it takes to get a Social Security hearing.
Unfortunately, there are no hard and fast rules for how long it will take to …
How long does it take to get a decision in a Social Security disability case?
How long after you complete your application for Social Security disability benefits (or Supplemental Security Income – SSI benefits), does it take to get a decision?
In Colorado where I practice, it usually takes between four and six months after you apply to get the initial decision. Sometimes, Social Security will describe this as between 120 and 180 days.
How long after my case is assigned to a Judge does it take to get a hearing?
If you are keeping in touch with the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) which is preparing your case for hearing, you may be told that your case has finally been assigned to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).
However, ODAR may not tell you is how much longer it will take to get a hearing date, now that your case has been assigned to a Judge. So, how long after your case is assigned to a judge will it take to get a hearing?
How long does it take to get an Appeals Council decision?
If you have been denied at your Social Security hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), you may end up having to file an appeal to the Social Security Appeals Council.
In my experience handling Social Security disability cases in Colorado, it can take between 6 – 18 months to get a decision back from the Appeals Council.
However, even if you “win” the appeal, that is not the end of your case. In the vast majority of cases, the Appeals Council does not approve benefits outright. Normally, they simply send the case back for another hearing with instructions to the ALJ on what should be …
How long does It take to get a Social Security hearing?
In my experience with Colorado Social Security cases, hearings are usually scheduled approximately 12-14 months after the appeal is filed. That is the most common time frame that I see for having a hearing scheduled.
However, I occasionally see cases scheduled as early as six months after the appeal (this is pretty rare), and sometimes as late as 18 months.
This is a long time! For most people there is a real question of how they are going to make ends meet while waiting for their case to go in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).
However, it is important to try to make the best use of this time:
I won my Social Security case! When do I get my benefits?
After waiting months (even years) to get your Social Security hearing, and then months more to get the decision, you finally have it! Social Security has found you disabled. It is “Favorable” (either Fully Favorable or Partly Favorable).
Ok, now what? When do my benefits begin?
Here’s the thing: Social Security disability claims have two parts:
Part 1. Determining if you are disabled? That was what the hearing was about.
Part 2. Determining your eligibility for benefits, the benefit amount, and the amount of back benefits if any.
Part 1 is done. Part 2 is just starting…
How long after my Social Security hearing does it take to get a decision?
I went to my Social Security hearing. But, the Judge did not say if she was going to find me disabled or not. When do I get my decision?!?
As you personally experienced, in most Social Security cases, the judge does not rule on your case at your hearing. In Colorado, I only see a decision from the bench in about one in ten cases.
In most cases, you will receive a written decision about 45 to 90 days after the hearing.
Why does it take so long?
Some judges write their own decision between reviewing upcoming cases and performing hearings. However, it is not unusual for the decision to …
