Social Security Disability Hearing Wait Times in 2024
Atticus offers free, high-quality disability advice for Americans who can't work. Our team of Stanford and Harvard trained lawyers has a combined 15+ years of legal experience, and have helped over 10,000 Americans apply for disability benefits.
As of October 2024, Social Security disability hearings happen at one of 167 offices across the country. The average wait time for a hearing is 7.8 months nationwide, but times vary based on where you live.
Below, Atticus calculated the average wait times by state and by hearing office. While your appeal could take more or less time for the SSA to process, having a sense of the wait is important so you can set realistic expectations for your application. Also keep in mind that a hearing is only part of the process. The overall appeal process will take longer.
Disability hearing wait times by state in 2024
Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska have the shortest hearing wait time at 6 months, on average, with more than a dozen other states having an average wait of seven months or less. On the other end, 11 states require an average wait of 9 months or more.
These are high-level numbers, but they're useful because the offices within a single state usually have similar processing times. Knowing your state's average wait helps you understand how the offices in your area are doing overall.
In 2024, there are no open hearing offices in Alaska, Idaho, South Dakota, Vermont, or Wyoming. If you live in one of those states, your hearing will happen in another nearby state.
Disability hearing wait times by office in 2024
There are 167 hearing offices holding Social Security disability hearings in 2024. Once you know where your hearing will be held, you can search the table below to see the latest average wait time.
Again, your appeal could take more or less time for the SSA to process, but knowing the wait time in your hearing office helps you set realistic expectations.
If you want the best chance of winning benefits at a hearing, the number one move we recommend is hiring a disability lawyer.
What to expect at a disability hearing
Disability hearings are a common part of the process for both SSDI and SSI. At a hearing, you make your case to an administrative law judge (ALJ) who has the power to approve or deny your benefits claim.
However, the process is very technical. Yes, it is a chance to speak to a real person and explain why you deserve benefits, but the disability judge primarily wants to know how your condition compares to the qualification requirements in the SSA Blue Book. They'll also ask questions to a vocational expert about jobs you could potentially do based on your limitations. These are set up as hypothetical questions and the conversation is mostly job codes and technical definitions of job duties.
Having a disability lawyer on your side makes the process much easier. A lawyer can prepare you for the judge's questions and handle the more technical parts of the hearing. Hiring a lawyer is also free to start and you don't pay anything until after you win benefits.
Read more about what a disability lawyer does.
Hearing approval rates
Of all the appeal stages for SSDI and SSI, hearings offer the highest chance of winning benefits, on average. In 2024, 58% of hearings ended in approval. That's much higher than the approval rate for initial applications (about 25%) and reconsiderations (about 10%), so appealing to a hearing is worth it in most cases.
The caveat is that your chances of approval change depending on the judge assigned to your case. There are more than 1,200 disability judges across the country and while some approve more than 90% of claims, others approve less than 20%.
Keep in mind that these are only averages. You can help increase your chances by hiring an experienced disability lawyer. A lawyer will know what information the SSA is looking to hear and will understand the preferences or tendencies of different judges. They will also handle the technical parts of a hearing, which most people aren't prepared to handle on their own.
If you already have a hearing date, Atticus also calculated the approval rates for each disability judge.
Frequently asked questions about disability hearings
What is an SSI or SSDI hearing?
A hearing is one of the key stages of appeal for Social Security disability. You present your case to a judge who can approve your benefits on the spot. It’s important to do as well as you can in the hearing because this is the last stage of appeal for almost all applicants. You can appeal a hearing denial, but it’s difficult and your chances of winning are low.
Do I need a lawyer for a disability hearing?
You don’t technically need a lawyer, but a good lawyer greatly increases your chances of winning benefits at the hearing. They’ll know the best way to present your case, how to answer a judge’s questions, and what questions to ask the vocational expert.
What are the chances of winning a disability hearing?
Based on a 2023 analysis by Atticus, people win benefits at their hearing 54% of the time. That’s a much higher approval rate than initial application and reconsiderations. Having a lawyer also triples your chances of winning a hearing.
Can I have my disability hearing over the phone?
Since the pandemic, many disability hearings happen virtually over the phone instead of in-person. That also means you can have a lawyer from another state (and it’s common to do so) because they don’t have to travel to your local courthouse.
Are there any signs that I won or lost my disability hearing?
Honestly, it’s best to ask your lawyer because they’ll know how the hearing went and potentially how the judge viewed your claim. Otherwise, it’s tough to say that any one thing — like a judge asking many or not very many questions — is a sure sign that you won or lost.
How long after my hearing will I get a decision?
You should expect to wait one to three months after an SSI or SSDI hearing for a decision. Some decisions will go faster, though. Your lawyer will have a clearer answer based on how your case and how the hearing went.
How long after my hearing will I get my back pay?
Once you get a hearing decision, you should get your first disability payment soon or even immediately. That first check will include all your back pay. If you have a lawyer, their fee will also come out of the check automatically so you don’t have to worry about paying them yourself.
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Derek Silva
Data Journalist and Content Lead
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