Disability determination processing time

This chart shows the average number of days it’s taken to process disability applications, by fiscal year and month. “Other” includes the average amount of time per claim spent in other steps within the application process that are not captured in steps 1, 2, and 3, such as quality review or transit time.  Average processing times increased in fiscal year 2024, in part because we focused on claims from individuals who have waited the longest for a disability decision. Improving the time it takes a customer to receive an initial disability determination is also an Agency Priority Goal.

This chart shows the monthly average number of days to process disability applications, by region, and the national monthly average processing time. Our Office of Operations is comprised of four regions that manage frontline services at SSA offices and support the DDSs. Every region is comprised of multiple states. 

This map shows the average number of days it’s taken field offices or state DDS to perform this work so far this fiscal year. 

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

This chart shows the number of initial disability determinations pending in the state DDS, by fiscal year and month. Disability determinations are step 2 in the disability claims process. The current fiscal year data includes results through the last completed month.

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

This chart shows the total number of initial disability claims pending, by fiscal year and month. This includes claims pending in the state DDS (step 2) and in the local field office (steps 1 and 3). This also includes disability claims that do not require a disability determination, such as claims for the spouse or child of a disability beneficiary. The current fiscal year data includes results through the last completed month.

This chart shows the percentage of people that scheduled a disability claim appointment within 28 days, either by phone or in person, by fiscal year and month. The current fiscal year data includes results through the last completed month.

This chart shows the percentage of people that filed a disability claim online, by fiscal year and month. The current fiscal year data includes results through the last completed month.

This chart provides a snapshot on how many days on average our customers waited for either an initial disability, reconsideration or hearing decision, by fiscal year and month. It also provides the percentage of cases that were processed at each level, by fiscal year and month. Not all disability claims go through the reconsideration or hearings appeal levels. For more information on the appeals process, see Your Right to Appeal the Decision Made on Your Claim.