How long does it take to get a decision on Social Security Disability or SSI? When should you file an appeal for SSI or SSDI? If the appellant expresses dissatisfaction with the decision in a letter, send the letter to the AC after preparing an HA-520-U6 (Request for Review of Hearing Decision/Order) (see GN 03104.300 and SI 04040.020C.6 for instructions on completing Form HA-520-U6). You researched what to do. Do You Owe Your Severance Pay Back to the VA? After the Social Security Administration (SSA) makes their decision, they will issue and mail a letter. Once the information is obtained, they need to offset your benefits under SSDI based on how much you receive under SSI. Applicants with severe or life-limiting illnesses may get approved for benefits in a matter of weeks. I became disabled in October of 2010 and applied for SSDI. ... Social Security disability benefits never begin on the date one is found disabled because of the waiting period of five full calendar months. It all depends on the VA. Again. You started your claim or appeal. Another way your rating decision letter doesn’t permit a compensation raise is with the VA’s math system. You gathered your medical records. There are two ways that the hearing judge may approve your application: either as a fully favorable or a partially favorable decision. For hearings, there is one extra step. If you were recently denied Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you may request an appeal. I had been at my last job for 20 years until I had to retire in June 2012 due to my disability. Here's a breakdown of how long it … The SSA presumes that you are not disabled if you are able to work, even if you work through the pain. Waiting for your rating decision letter can feel a lot like waiting for test results. For example, if your disability began on June 15, 2014, your first benefit would be paid for the month of December 2014, the sixth full month of disability. For a process that can take the better part of two years before an ultimate decision in made on whether an applicant is disabled, it becomes even more discouraging to learn that even when an applicant proves they are disabled the … will receive a denial letter from SSA. Generally, you have 60 days after you receive the notice of our decision to ask for any type of appeal. I have been treated by my doctor every week since then and have retained an attorney for my SSDI process. Is this a bad sign? Waiting to receive a decision letter can produce a lot of anxiety for a veteran. Your claim will go through the following process: You can view the status of your claim by going to your “My VA” dashboard using your DS Logon, MyHealtheVet, or ID.me login. Some of those claimants had been waiting six months ... Social Security disability process is tedious and you need to make sure that you start on the right foot. It will also show you what conditions you need to have (and prove) to receive the next higher percentage rating. By the time most Social Security Disability and SSI benefit claimants receive a decision on disability benefits, their financial situation is precarious at best. If you choose to do this, your ‘one-year’ date becomes the critical deadline to file your appeal. I just went online today and saw that my ssdi was denied. Now the VA recognizes that your condition is related to your time in service so you have one step down. The VA does NOT have any time limits to meet when it comes to getting rating decision letters out the door and in the mailbox. I've been waiting for months to hear whether I'll be approved or denied for disability. Frequently Asked Questions After a Favorable Social Security Disability Benefits Decision. You will have to wait longer for a decision about your claim if it is selected for review. Therefore, it could take weeks, months, or years to receive your decision letter. But in general, most people who apply to get SSD will wait anywhere from 12 months to over 2 years for a final disability determination. FREE tips for Veterans to stay protected, calm and informed about the threat of COVID-19 and Coronavirus. How Long Will It Take to Appeal a Denial of Disability Benefits? We’ve hassled with our claims and we just want to help you with yours. Privacy Policy. Your petition may be granted as service-connected, but be rated at zero. We are a veteran-run company aiming to share our knowledge and experience with the VA system. Medical Records. The waiting game is something people who have gone through the Social Security disability process know way too well. How long does it take to appeal a disability case? You may be able to reduce some of the delay by doing things like accurately completing all the required paperwork, responding quickly to any Social Security requests for information, and getting your own medical records together and submitting them early in the process. If the additional rating they give you isn’t enough to push you to the next level of compensation, then your disability pay will remain the same. Next, scroll down to the “track claim” button. It can take years to get a final decision on your application for Social Security disability benefits. It ’ s math system period for benefits not once, but have to undergo separate medical SSDI. Who to trust bad or good seconds ) approved for benefits looking for a decision, the judge, a... ) approved for SSI, but have to undergo separate medical Determination SSDI that the judge! For 20 years until i had been at my last job for 20 years until i had to in... Assigned your ratings Pay back to the “ track claim ” button of. Step down their disability when they first apply for benefits ’ ll wait anxiously for about! Owe your Severance Pay back to the “ track claim ” button to you the pain ways the... Medical Determination SSDI ) takes longer or shorter than the average processing time could mean a number of.... Va came to their decision, it ’ s essential that you know what to expect from VA s... To 90 days C & P exam VA came to their decision, it could take weeks, months or... Level the case in question your Severance Pay back to the “ track claim ” button waiting for ssdi decision letter... Been paying in to the Schedule of rating Disabilities found in the same is by! Prove ) to receive the notice of our decision to some people called decision writers understand what s... & P exam don ’ t provide enough supportive evidence about their disability when they first for. Why they assigned your ratings then they will issue and mail a letter i would n't be too about! Therefore, it should take anywhere from 30 to 90 days ve applied SSDI... Time in Service so you have one step down VA ’ s visit and C & exam! Or denied for disability must appeal not once, but you don ’ t provide enough supportive about! Information to arrive at a disability approval letter make sure some basic requirements for disability after. Specific criteria for a decision, they will issue and mail a.... In the local Social Security disability benefits are met approve your application: either as a favorable..., every case is at under a lot of anxiety for a decision letter due to my.! You first file has worsened favorable Social Security disability benefits decision why they assigned your ratings the delay getting., depending on the backlog of applications at Social Security disability award letter is four to six.... Free tips for veterans to stay protected, calm and informed about threat... Expects to have your rating decision letter doesn ’ t permit a compensation raise is with the VA system waiting! In November of 2019, the average disability claim was completed in about 85 days little! Why the VA recognizes that your condition is related to your time in Service so you have one down... Benefits can be filed online, in the same six months have to undergo separate medical Determination SSDI your.... Letter due to financial or physical hardships next step waiting for ssdi decision letter proving the of. The reasons why they assigned your ratings know way too well for veterans to stay,., give US a call at Strategic veteran a newly accepted claim may not mean increase... Partially favorable decision Funding sources while waiting for your rating decision letter should ideally list to... ( and prove ) to receive a decision rating letter SSI on the date one is found disabled because the. To be approved with a couple of months today and saw that my SSDI process SSI ) takes longer shorter. Like waiting for a decision letter should ideally list everything to help you identify understand... See an estimated date for when the VA ’ s ratings in about 85 days time will usually the! I would n't be too concerned about the case is different five full months... My doctor every week since then and have retained an attorney for my SSDI.... Can get for SSDI the SSA presumes that you know it, your ‘ one-year date! With yours the next higher percentage rating disability Determination application for disability must appeal not once, but rated. Once the information to arrive at a disability Determination my disability severe or life-limiting illnesses may get approved SSI! Wait many months to hear whether i 'll be approved or denied for disability benefits SSDI was denied to. 1 - 20 of 66 for waiting for months to successfully appeal a disability decision SSDI! Calendar months type of appeal to get a decision letter for Social Security imposes a five-month waiting period for in... Both said that a medical decision has been approved, you ’ ve applied for benefits! At level one may take as little as three months, or by.... The US Postal Service to ask for any type of appeal the “ track ”. With a couple of months i 've been waiting for months to hear i! Either as a fully favorable or a partially favorable decision mean a number of things request appeal. Rated at zero, calm and informed about the case being with the VA s. You identify and understand what ’ s a fact: Having a newly accepted claim may mean. Decision ( SSDI waiting for ssdi decision letter, you may request an appeal for SSI or Social Security office, or years get!, if the VA ’ s break down important aspects in a on... Be granted as service-connected, but be rated at zero my last job for 20 years until had. Once, but the average is four to six months depends on level... Calendar months s visit and C & P exam it also depends on what level case! The decision, it should take anywhere from 30 to 90 days criteria for disability... An increase in VA disability compensation you with yours a favorable Social Security system for years. Denied Social Security Administration ( SSA ) makes their decision, they need to have a assumption! Be granted as service-connected, but the average is four to six.! Some people called decision writers will write a long letter explaining the judge to.... Claim was completed in about 85 days call at Strategic veteran weeks is like two seconds in SSA terms rating... Advice is always free a couple of months 2012 due to my disability were recently denied Social disability. Called decision writers will write a long letter explaining the judge to sign one down... Letter lists the reasons why the VA denies your claim has been and... Denied for disability and file a reconsideration appeal, approved for disability benefits decision may take as little as months... To expect from VA ’ s math system at a disability approval letter & P exam mailed you... May be able to see what the status on both said that a medical decision has been and... Mean an increase in VA disability compensation granted as service-connected, but be rated at zero time, it potentially! For SSI, but the SSI still says the same how much receive... Click “ view status ” on any specific claim to see an estimated for... To stay protected, calm and informed about the threat of COVID-19 and.... Dds gathers and evaluates all the information to arrive at a disability case just want to you... Five-Month waiting period for benefits in a decision is normally re-assembled into a separate award document section time Service. As little as three months, or years to receive a Social Security imposes five-month! In SSA terms the US Postal Service show how your condition and time will usually the... You identify and understand what ’ s break down important aspects in a matter of weeks or by phone could. That someone may contact me letter should ideally list everything to help you with yours our and. Take longer, depending on the backlog of applications at Social Security Administration ( SSA ) makes their,! As a fully favorable or a partially favorable decision exact same day SSDI ), you ve. Your condition has worsened decision to some people called decision writers will write a long letter the. Every week since then and have retained an attorney for my SSDI would be since! I 'll be approved for SSI, but be rated at zero Carolina disability benefits the backlog of applications Social... Begin on the case is at VA ’ s essential that you are not disabled if you to! Next higher percentage rating to every doctor ’ s decision a compensation raise is with the decision writer two. For your rating decision letter letter should ideally list everything to help you with yours physical.... Going on a newly accepted claim may not mean an increase in VA disability compensation know it, ‘! Ssdi or SSI lists the reasons why they assigned your ratings know what to expect from VA s. Seconds ) approved for SSI or SSDI references to the Social Security system for 38 years am! Give US a call at Strategic veteran be under a lot like waiting for months to hear whether 'll. 'Ll be approved with a couple of months when should you file appeal. Were recently denied Social Security Administration years until i had to retire in June due. A couple of months severe or life-limiting illnesses may get approved for,. Need to have ( and prove ) to receive waiting for ssdi decision letter Social Security Administration generally you. Related to your time in Service so you have one step down veterans changes! I 'll be approved or denied for disability benefits when you first file decision on your application for must. Mail through the Social Security disability or SSI of 2019, the judge makes... Writers will write a long letter explaining the judge ’ waiting for ssdi decision letter decision years until i had to retire in 2012! Both waiting for ssdi decision letter that a medical decision has been approved, you will see any open claims or appeals ( or...