AARP Hearing Center
Once you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the two Social Security–administered benefits for people with disabilities, it can take months for your claim to be approved or denied.
Wait times for an initial decision on disability claims increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, from an average of 120 days in 2019 to 221 days in the first half of 2023. That wait can be difficult, especially if you lack other household income or if your health problems are serious enough to potentially shorten your life expectancy.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) can expedite processing for disability applicants who have certain medical conditions, face especially trying personal circumstances or served in the U.S. military. Even if you don’t fit into one of these “critical case” categories, there are steps you can take to try to speed up your claim, like enlisting the help of an attorney, a professional disability advocate or your member of Congress.
Here are some of the ways you might get a quicker determination of whether you qualify for disability benefits.
Fast-track processing
Applicants who have certain medical conditions are entitled to expedited processing of their disability claims under two Social Security programs, Compassionate Allowances and Quick Disability Determinations (QDD). On average, about 175,000 claims a year are fast-tracked, representing 7.5 percent of disability applications filed electronically, according to SSA data.
You should not have to ask to be considered for a Compassionate Allowance or QDD — Social Security uses digital tools to flag potentially eligible applications. But if you have a qualifying condition, disability experts say it doesn’t hurt to note that on your application form.
