The first step: file a claim with Social Security
To begin the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) process, you file a claim directly with the Social Security Administration. You do not explore through your doctor, your state, or any other agency first. Social Security is the only body that decides whether you meet their definition of disability.
You can file in three ways: online at ssa.gov (the fastest route for most people), by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. Online filing takes about 15 minutes if you have your medical records and work history ready. Phone and in-person appointments may take longer but let you ask questions as you go.
When you file, Social Security assigns your claim a number and sends you a receipt notice. Keep this number — you will use it to check your claim status, request documents, and communicate with Social Security for years afterward.
Key Takeaways
- File your claim directly with Social Security online, by phone, or at your local office; no referral from a doctor or state agency is required.
- Social Security will request your medical records from your doctors and hospitals, so tell them which providers have treated you for your condition.
- The decision process usually takes three to six months for an initial claim, but some cases take longer if Social Security needs more medical evidence.
- If Social Security denies your claim, you can request reconsideration, then a hearing before an administrative law judge, without paying a fee.
- A lawyer or non-lawyer representative can help you through the process and is paid only if you win; their fee comes from your back pay, not from you upfront.
What information you need to have ready
Before you file, gather your Social Security number, birth certificate, and proof of citizenship or legal residency. You will also need a list of every doctor, hospital, clinic, and mental health provider who has treated you for your condition, along with the dates you saw them. Social Security will contact these providers directly to get your medical records.
Have your work history available — the names of employers, dates you worked, and the type of work you did for the past 15 years. If you are self-employed, bring tax returns. If you receive workers' compensation or unemployment benefits, have those documents too. Social Security uses your work history to determine whether you have paid enough into the system to be insured for SSDI (SSI has no work requirement).
You do not need to have all your medical records in hand before you file. Social Security will request them from your providers after you submit your claim. However, if you already have recent records from your doctor, bringing them speeds up the process.
How Social Security evaluates your claim
Social Security uses a five-step process to decide whether you are disabled. First, they check whether you are working and earning more than $1,550 per month (the 2024 limit; this amount changes yearly). If you are, they usually deny the claim. If you are not, they move to step two.
In step two, Social Security determines whether your condition is severe enough to interfere with basic work activities. This is a low bar — most conditions that cause real problems pass this step. If yours does not, the claim is denied.
Step three is the critical one: Social Security checks whether your condition matches or equals one of the conditions on the Listing of Impairments, a detailed medical guide published by Social Security. If your condition matches the listing exactly — including the severity and duration requirements — you are approved. If it does not match, Social Security moves to step four.
In step four, Social Security decides what type of work you can still do given your condition, age, education, and work history. If they believe you can do your past work, the claim is denied. If they believe you cannot, they move to step five.
In step five, Social Security decides whether other work exists in the national economy that you can do. If they find work you could do, the claim is denied. If they cannot, you are approved.
What happens after you file
After you file, Social Security sends you a notice with your claim number and tells you what documents to send. They will request your medical records from the providers you listed. This process takes four to eight weeks. During this time, you can check your claim status online using your Social Security account or by calling the number on your notice.
Social Security may also send you to a medical exam paid for by them. This is called a consultative examination. You do not pay for it. The doctor who examines you sends their findings to Social Security, and Social Security uses this report along with your medical records to make a decision.
Once Social Security has all the medical evidence, they make a decision and mail you a notice. The entire process from filing to initial decision usually takes three to six months, though some cases take longer if the medical evidence is unclear or if Social Security needs more information.
Understanding the decision notice
Social Security will send you one of three notices: approval, denial, or approval at a different date. An approval notice tells you when your benefits begin and how much you will receive monthly. A denial notice explains which step of the five-step process your claim failed and why.
Read the denial notice carefully. It will tell you whether you can request reconsideration — a free review of your claim by a different Social Security examiner. You have 60 days from the date on the notice to request reconsideration. This is your first chance to appeal.
If Social Security denies your reconsideration request, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. This hearing is free and is held by video or in person. You can bring a representative — a lawyer or non-lawyer advocate — to speak for you. The judge will review all the evidence and make a new decision. If the judge approves you, Social Security pays you back to the date you filed your original claim.
How long benefits take to start
If Social Security approves your initial claim, there is a waiting period before payments begin. For SSDI, you must wait five full calendar months after the month your disability began before you receive your first check. For SSI, payments can begin the month you file if you meet the financial limits.
Your first payment arrives by direct deposit or check, depending on how you set it up when you filed. The amount depends on your age, your work history (for SSDI), or your income and resources (for SSI). Social Security will tell you the exact amount in your approval notice.
If you appealed a denial and won at a hearing, Social Security pays you back pay — the money you would have received from the date you filed your original claim until the date the judge approved you. This back pay is usually paid in a lump sum, though you can ask Social Security to spread it over several months.
Getting help with your claim
You can represent yourself throughout the entire process, and many people do. However, if your claim is denied and you appeal, having a representative can increase your chances of winning. A disability representative can be a lawyer or a non-lawyer advocate trained in Social Security law.
Representatives are paid only if you win your case. Their fee is taken from your back pay — usually 25 percent of the back pay, up to a maximum of $7,200 (as of 2024; this limit changes yearly). You do not pay anything upfront. Before you hire a representative, check that they are approved by Social Security. You can search the Social Security website for approved representatives in your area.
If you cannot afford a representative, you can also contact a Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) program in your state. These programs offer free help to people with disabilities. You can find your state's program through the Social Security website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file for disability while I am still working?
Yes, you can file while working, but Social Security will likely deny your claim if you earn more than $1,550 per month. If you earn less than that, you can file and continue working. Tell Social Security about your work when you file so they have accurate information.
How do I check the status of my claim after I file?
Create an account at ssa.gov and sign in to check your claim status anytime. You can also call the number on your claim receipt notice. Social Security updates claim status every few weeks as they gather medical records and make decisions.
What if my doctor says I am disabled but Social Security denies my claim?
Social Security uses their own medical standards, not your doctor's opinion alone. If they deny your claim, you can request reconsideration and ask your doctor to send a detailed letter explaining why you cannot work. This letter can help at a hearing before a judge.
Do I have to go to a medical exam Social Security sends me to?
Yes, if Social Security sends you to a consultative examination, you should go. If you miss the appointment without a good reason, Social Security may deny your claim. If you cannot make the appointment, call Social Security when ready to reschedule.
How much back pay will I receive if I win on appeal?
You receive back pay from the date you filed your original claim until the date you are approved, minus any representative fee. The exact amount depends on how long the appeal took and what your monthly benefit amount is. Social Security will calculate this and tell you in your approval notice.