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Disability decision reconsideration time

Disability claimants who disagree with the initial determination made by Social Security and the State Disability Determination Services, may appeal their decision by requesting a reconsideration which is the first level of appeal. A reconsideration is a complete review of the disability claim and includes reviewing all the evidence used in the first determination, plus any new evidence provided. Social Security typically receives between 50,000 and 60,000 reconsideration requests monthly. 

Performance at a glance

Fiscal year to date (through the last completed month)

  • Average processing time

    240
    days

  • Reconsiderations completed

    422,053

Reconsideration decision average processing time

By fiscal year and monthly

Remote Media URL

This chart shows how many days on average our customers waited for a disability reconsideration decision, by fiscal year and month. The current fiscal year data includes results through the last completed month.

Current reconsideration decision average processing time by state

Remote Media URL

This map shows the average number of days it’s taken to process a disability reconsideration decision so far this fiscal year, by state. 

The time it takes to process disability reconsideration decisions varies from state to state due to a variety of circumstances, like differences in staffing.

Reconsiderations received and completed

By fiscal year and monthly

Remote Media URL

This chart shows the number of disability reconsideration requests we received and completed, by month. The current fiscal year data includes results through the last completed month.

Reconsiderations pending

By fiscal year and monthly

Remote Media URL

This chart shows the number of disability reconsideration requests pending in the state DDS, by fiscal year and month. The current fiscal year data includes results through the last completed month.

Last updated on April 10, 2025