2024 Year in Review: The State of Disability Benefits

As the year comes to a close, let’s look back at what happened with disability benefits in 2024. It was a year marked by a mix of progress, setbacks, and lingering challenges. Social Security Administration (SSA) took some meaningful steps to improve its disability benefits system and address some of the most urgent issues facing applicants. 

Hearing wait times were significantly reduced, and more people were able to connect with representatives through the SSA phone hotline. Efforts to resolve long-standing underpayments of SSI benefits also showed measurable progress with thousands receiving backpay checks.

Despite these improvements, some major challenges remain. The time it takes to process initial disability applications has continued to increase. At the Disability Determination Services (DDS) level, wait times have more than doubled since 2019. Many applicants are still waiting months—or even years—for decisions on their claims. Financial struggles also persist. For many recipients, disability benefits remain too low to cover basic living expenses.

While the SSA took some steps in the right direction this year, much work remains to create a fair and efficient system for those who depend on these vital programs. Read on to learn more about the SSA’s progress and remaining challenges.

Changes in 2024

Jump to:

• Application processing times

• Hearing wait times

• Phone wait times

• Judge approval rates

• Underpayment of SSI benefits

• Big changes to SSI eligibility

• COLA updates: smaller increase

• Are disability benefits enough to live on?

Application processing times

Processing times for Social Security disability applications showed mixed results in 2024. While the average time to process initial applications increased slightly — rising from 14.8 days in 2023 to 15.3 days in 2024 — the SSA focused its efforts on prioritizing cases that had been pending the longest. This means that fewer people had to endure extra-long waits. 

At the DDS level, the average processing time surpassed six months (186.2 days in October 2024), more than double the pre-pandemic average of 91.7 days in early 2019. This steady increase in processing time remains an ongoing concern due to various factors including staffing levels and application backlogs.

Hearing wait times

One of the most notable improvements in 2024 was the significant reduction in hearing wait times. As of October 2024, applicants waited an average of 7.8 months for a hearing, down from 13 months in October 2023.

In 2023, some hearing offices had waits of over two years, with 23 offices reporting delays of 1.5+ years. By 2024, no hearing office had a wait time exceeding 16 months, and only five locations reported waits of 12 months or more (Rochester, NY; Fresno, CA; Santa Barbara, CA; Ponce, PR; and the Special Review Cadre).

The overall time from filing an appeal to receiving a hearing decision also improved, dropping from 450 days (about 15 months) in 2023 to 342 days (just over 11 months) in 2024.

Phone wait times

For those seeking assistance through the SSA’s national 1-800 phone number, 2024 saw significant improvements. This was a top priority for Martin O’Malley, the former Commissioner of the SSA. The percentage of callers who successfully connected with a representative rose from 47% in October 2023 to 60% in October 2024. Meanwhile, the average wait time dropped dramatically from 37 to 13 minutes.

These improvements came after the SSA hired additional agents and added a new phone system. Calling the SSA’s 1-800 number can still be frustrating with long holds and difficulty connecting, but 2024 showed some much-needed progress. 

Judge approval rates

More good news for applicants in 2024 is the steady increase in favorable disability decisions by administrative law judges. In 2024, judges approved 58% of cases, up from 57% in 2023, 54% in 2022, and 52% in 2021. This follows a consistent trend of rising approval rates since 2021. 

The number of judges actively assigned cases in 2024 is at a seven-year low, with 1,221 on record. The number of hearing decisions also hit a seven-year low at 207,000 decisions. Despite fewer judges taking cases in 2024, rising approval rates mean more individuals received the good news of SSDI or SSI approvals. Applicants will hope this trend continues into 2025.

Underpayment of SSI benefits

In 2024, the SSA made strides in addressing the widespread issue of SSI underpayments by sending checks to those impacted by underpayments. At the start of 2023, over 150,000 SSI recipients were owed back payments, with 76% waiting more than a year to receive them. By July 2024, the SSA had corrected 53% of these underpayments and is on track to resolve all cases by the end of 2025.

Big changes to SSI eligibility

The SSA has announced significant updates to Supplemental Security Income (SSI), expanding access and increasing benefit amounts for many Americans.

Expanded eligibility

Households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are now eligible for SSI, even if not all household members receive public assistance. Previously, every member had to qualify for public assistance for the household to be eligible.

Food aid no longer reduces SSI

In a major shift, food assistance like SNAP is no longer counted as income under SSA guidelines. This change will boost monthly SSI payments for thousands of recipients who previously saw reductions simply for relying on food aid.

Relief for affordable housing residents

Starting in 2024, SSI beneficiaries living in subsidized housing or receiving rental assistance will no longer face significant reductions in their payments. This update ensures that individuals can access affordable housing without sacrificing critical income. 

“I’m committed to making systemic changes to help people access the critical benefits they need,” O’Malley said in a statement. “We are removing significant barriers to accessing SSI. These changes promote greater equity in our programs.”

Number of applicants

The number of Social Security disability applications rebounded to pre-pandemic levels in 2024, with the SSA processing an average of 3,500 initial applications (SSDI and SSI) per month, the highest since 2019.

COLA updates: smaller increase

Social Security’s cost-of-living update for 2025 came in at 2.5%, the smallest COLA increase since 2021. You can see more updates for 2025 here.

Are disability benefits enough to live on?

In short, no — research shows disability benefits are insufficient to cover basic living expenses in any state. The smaller 2025 COLA makes financial challenges worse amid rising inflation.

Average monthly payments in 2024

The average SSDI benefit in 2024 is approximately $1,489 per month, while the maximum possible SSDI benefit can reach up to $3,822. The monthly payment amount depends on your work history and earnings, and only a small percentage of recipients qualify for the highest amounts. Meanwhile, SSI payments are significantly lower, averaging around $600 per month, with a maximum benefit of $943. These amounts are designed to replace lost wages due to disability but fall short of meeting even basic living costs, which vary depending on location.

Cost of living vs. benefits

Research has consistently shown that SSDI and SSI payments cover only a fraction of monthly expenses. SSDI benefits typically account for less than half of living expenses in most states, while SSI benefits often cover less than one-third of essential costs​.

With inflation rising faster than cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), the purchasing power of these benefits has further diminished. In fact, only a handful of states offer average SSDI benefits that exceed $1,600 monthly, while SSI benefits remain relatively stagnant nationwide. Even in states with lower costs of living, benefits rarely bridge the gap between income and the actual cost of essentials like housing, food, and healthcare​. Financial strain is nearly inevitable for those relying solely on disability benefits. Many recipients are forced to seek additional support, such as family assistance, public housing, food stamps, or part-time work within allowable income limits. Policymakers continue to debate the adequacy of benefits, but for now, these programs alone are not enough to sustain a decent quality of life.

Despite the remaining challenges, 2024 marked a year of meaningful progress for disability benefits. From faster hearing decisions and phone wait times to rising approval rates, these changes provided real relief for many applicants. With continued focus and investment, there is hope that 2025 will build on these successes, bringing the system closer to truly meeting the needs of those it serves.