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Disability determination processing time

Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income ("disability") benefits provide essential income for people with disabilities. We carefully review medical and work history to determine if someone’s eligible for disability benefits.

There are 3 major steps in the initial disability claims process:

  • Step 1: Field office checks to see if the customer meets basic non-medical requirements.
  • Step 2: State Disability Determination Services (DDS) checks to see if the customer’s medical condition meets the disability requirements.
  • Step 3: Field office approves or denies the claim and issues the decision letter.

The first and third steps occur at our field offices. The second and more detailed step occurs at the state level. Every state operates a DDS office funded by Social Security.

Disability determination average processing times

7-year trend

This chart shows the average number of days it’s taken to process disability applications over the past 7 years. “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 have increased since fiscal year 2020 as our state DDS offices have faced challenges maintaining staff.  Average processing times further increased in fiscal year 2024 as we continue focusing 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.

Monthly trend

This chart shows the average number of days it’s taken to process disability applications in each of the most recent 12 months. 

National and regional average processing times, February 2024 to Present

This chart shows the monthly average number of days to process disability applications, by region, and the national monthly average processing time. The comparison points in the chart mark the average processing time in February 2024 and the most current month. Our Office of Operations is comprised of ten regions that manage frontline services at SSA offices and support the DDSs.  Every region is comprised of multiple states. View our Office of Operations' organizational structure for more information about each region, including the states that fall under their jurisdiction.

Field office processing times (Steps 1 and 3)

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

State DDS processing times (Step 2)

The time it takes to process disability claims varies from state to state due to a variety of circumstances, like differences in staffing. This map shows the average number of days for each state to make an initial disability determination so far this fiscal year.

Initial disability claims pending

Monthly trend

This chart shows the number of initial disability claims pending for each of the most recent 12 months. As of December 2024, we have successfully driven down the number of initial disability claims pending by about 161,000 cases since reaching a peak of almost 1.27 million cases in mid-June 2024.

Last updated on January 7, 2025