One thing many Social Security Disability applicants and potential applicants want to know is how long it will take to have a hearing if their initial application is denied. Many people know that a lot of applicants are denied when they first apply, and applicants often must appeal if they hope to obtain benefits.
Fortunately, the Social Security Administration (SSA) seems to be aware of this because it has created a website showing the average wait time (in months) for a hearing before an administrative law judge in the different hearing offices around the nation. The website currently lists average wait times for the month of February 2019, for cases that closed that month.
For example, the average wait time for cases closed in the Phoenix hearing office last month was 20 months. The average wait time for the Phoenix North hearing office was 21 months.
There were only 15 hearing offices where the average wait time was less than 12 months (one year). The rest of the 153 hearing offices had wait times of one year or longer. There were 43 hearing offices where the wait time was a year and a half or longer (18 months or more). There were just three hearing offices where the wait time was nine months or less.
Contact an Attorney for Assistance with Your Appeal
Was your application for disability benefits denied?
Our Social Security Disability attorneys in Phoenix may be able to help you file an appeal and guide you through every stage of the process. We have helped many people with disabilities recover the benefits they need and are entitled.
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