What to do after you submit your SSDI process

After you submit your SSDI process to Social Security, you enter a waiting period that usually lasts three to six months, though it can stretch longer if Social Security needs more medical evidence or asks you questions. You do not have to sit passively during this time. Social Security expects you to check on your case, respond quickly to requests, and provide additional documents if asked. The faster you respond, the faster your case moves.

Your first step is to confirm Social Security received your process and knows how to contact you. If you applied in person at a field office, you should have received a receipt notice. If you applied online through my Social Security or by phone, write down the date and time you applied. Keep this information in a safe place—you will need it to look up your case.

Key Takeaways

  • Create a my Social Security account online to check your process status anytime without calling; this is faster than waiting on hold.
  • Social Security will mail you a notice if they need more medical records, work history, or other documents—respond within the important date they give you, usually 10 days.
  • Call the Social Security toll-free number 1-800-772-1213 only if you cannot find your case online or if you need to report a change in your address or phone number.
  • If you do not hear anything for more than 60 days after explore, contact your local Social Security field office in person or by phone to confirm they have your file.
  • Keep copies of every document you send to Social Security, along with the date you sent it and the name of the person who received it.

Set up my Social Security to track your case online

The fastest way to follow up on your SSDI process is to create or log into a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Once you are logged in, you can see the status of your process, view any notices Social Security has sent you, and check what documents they have received. You do not need to call or visit an office to see this information—it updates regularly and is available 24 hours a day.

To create an account, go to ssa.gov and click "Create an account" under my Social Security. You will need to verify your identity using your Social Security number, email address, and phone number. Social Security will send you a verification code by text or email. Once you are logged in, look for "Benefit Applications" or "My Applications" to find your SSDI case. The status will show whether Social Security is reviewing your medical evidence, waiting for documents from you, or making a decision.

If you already have a my Social Security account from checking your earnings record or other reasons, straightforward log in and look for your process. If you cannot find it after logging in, your process may not have been processed into the system yet—this sometimes takes a few days after you submit it.

Respond to Social Security's requests for documents

Social Security will mail you a notice if they need more information to decide your case. This notice will list exactly what they want—usually medical records from your doctors, a detailed work history, or answers to questions about your daily activities. The notice will also tell you the important date to respond, which is typically 10 days from the date on the letter.

Do not ignore these notices. If you miss the important date, Social Security can close your case without making a decision. If that happens, you have to start over with a new process. To avoid this, open your mail as soon as it arrives, read the notice carefully, and gather the documents right away.

If Social Security asks for medical records, contact your doctor's office and ask them to send the records directly to Social Security. Give them the address on the notice. If you are asking for records from multiple doctors, call each office and ask which one will coordinate sending everything together—this saves time. Keep a list of which offices you called, the date you called, and the name of the person you spoke with. If records do not arrive by the important date, call the doctor's office again to follow up.

If Social Security asks you to answer questions about your work history or daily activities, write your answers clearly and mail them back in the envelope provided, or upload them through my Social Security if that option is available. Keep a copy for yourself.

Call Social Security if you need to report changes or have questions

Call the Social Security toll-free number 1-800-772-1213 if you need to report a change in your address, phone number, or email; if you cannot log into my Social Security; or if you have not heard anything about your case in more than 60 days. Have your Social Security number ready when you call. Wait times are usually shorter early in the morning or late in the afternoon on weekdays.

When you call, tell the representative that you are calling about an SSDI process, not retirement benefits or SSI. Give them the date you applied. Ask them to confirm that your contact information is correct in their system and to tell you what stage your case is in. If they say they are waiting for documents from you, ask which documents and when they need them by. If they say they are waiting for medical records from your doctor, ask which doctor and which records.

Do not call repeatedly asking for updates if Social Security has told you they are still reviewing your case. Calling does not speed up the decision. Call only if you have new information to report, if you missed a important date and need to explain why, or if you have not heard anything in a very long time.

Visit your local Social Security field office if you need in-person help

You can walk into your local Social Security field office without an appointment to ask questions about your process. To find the office nearest you, go to ssa.gov and use the "Find a Social Security Office" tool, or call 1-800-772-1213 and ask for the address. Bring your Social Security number and a photo ID.

Going in person is useful if you have documents to hand over directly, if you need help understanding a notice, or if you believe Social Security lost your process. The staff can look up your case on the spot and tell you exactly what they have received and what they are waiting for. They can also scan documents into your file right there, which creates a record that you delivered them.

Bring copies of any documents you are submitting, not originals. Social Security will keep the copies in your file. If you are handing over medical records, ask the staff member to stamp or date-stamp each page so you have proof of when you delivered them.

Keep detailed records of everything you submit

Create a folder—physical or digital—where you keep copies of your original process, every document you send to Social Security, and every notice Social Security sends you. For each document you mail or deliver, write down the date, what it was, and the name of the person who received it (if you delivered it in person) or the tracking number (if you mailed it).

If you mail documents, use certified mail with return receipt so you have proof Social Security received them. The return receipt will show the date delivered and the signature of the person who signed for it. This protects you if Social Security later says they never got something.

If you upload documents through my Social Security, take a screenshot showing the date and time of upload. If you hand-deliver documents to a field office, ask for a receipt or write down the date, time, and name of the staff member. These records become important if your case is denied and you need to file an appeal—you will need to show that you submitted everything Social Security asked for.

Understand the timeline and what happens next

Social Security aims to make an initial decision on SSDI applications within 60 to 90 days, but many cases take longer, especially if they need medical evidence or if your condition is complex. If your case takes longer than 120 days, you can ask Social Security for an update, but this does not speed up the decision.

When Social Security makes a decision, they will mail you a notice. If you are approved, the notice will tell you when your benefits start and how much you will receive each month. If you are denied, the notice will explain why and will tell you how long you have to file an appeal—usually 60 days from the date on the notice.

If you are denied, do not assume the decision is final. Many people are denied the first time and approved on appeal. You have the right to file an appeal, and you can ask a disability advocate or lawyer to help you. The appeal process is separate from following up on your original process, but the records you kept during the process process will be crucial to your appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I check my process status online?

Check your my Social Security account once a week or whenever you think of it. There is no penalty for checking frequently, and the status updates automatically as Social Security processes your case. You do not need to call or visit an office just to check—the online system is the fastest way to see what is happening.

What if I miss the important date to send documents Social Security asked for?

Call Social Security when ready at 1-800-772-1213 and explain why you missed the important date. Ask if they will give you more time. If you have a good reason—your doctor was slow, you were hospitalized, you did not receive the notice—Social Security may extend the important date. Do not wait; call as soon as you realize you will miss it.

Can I call Social Security to ask them to hurry up and make a decision?

Calling to ask for a faster decision does not work. Social Security processes cases in the order they receive them and cannot speed up individual cases. Call only if you have new medical evidence to add, if your condition has changed, or if you have not heard anything in more than 120 days and want to confirm they still have your file.

What if Social Security says they never received my process?

If you applied in person, ask Social Security to search their system by your Social Security number and the date you applied. If you applied online or by phone, log into my Social Security and look for your process there. If you cannot find it anywhere, you may need to submit a new process. If you have proof you submitted it (a receipt, a tracking number, or a witness), bring that proof to your local field office.

Should I hire a lawyer to help me follow up on my process?

You do not need a lawyer just to follow up on your process or respond to Social Security's requests for documents. You can do this yourself by checking my Social Security, responding to notices, and calling if you have questions. A lawyer becomes useful if your case is denied and you are filing an appeal, or if your case is very complex and you want professional help from the start.