Hearing wait times have not improved overall, and timelines vary widely by region
The average wait from when you request an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing to the day you sit down with the judge has not shortened in recent years. As of 2024, the national average is roughly 400 to 500 days, though some hearing offices process cases in 200 days while others take 700 or more. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has made some operational changes—adding judges, opening new hearing offices, and expanding video hearings—but these have not yet produced a measurable drop in the overall backlog.
What has changed is the speed of the decision itself. Once your hearing is over, judges are issuing written decisions faster than they did five years ago. Many decisions now arrive within 30 to 60 days instead of the 90 to 120 days that was common before. But this improvement is small compared to the months you spend waiting for the hearing date itself.
Key Takeaways
- The wait for a hearing date has not shortened and remains between 400 and 500 days nationally, though your region may be faster or slower.
- Decisions after the hearing are coming out faster—often within 30 to 60 days—but this does not offset the long wait to get the hearing scheduled.
- Video hearings are now available in most regions and do not appear to change your place in the queue, only the format of the hearing itself.
- Your hearing office location determines your wait time more than any other factor; offices in rural areas and some urban centers have backlogs exceeding 700 days.
- Requesting a hearing does not pause your case or change your benefits status while you wait.
Why the backlog has not cleared despite SSA efforts
The SSA has hired new ALJs and opened additional hearing offices, but the number of people requesting hearings has grown faster than the agency's capacity to hold them. In 2023 and 2024, the number of pending cases actually increased even as the agency added judges. This is partly because more people are filing initial claims, and partly because the denial rate on initial claims remains high—meaning more people move forward to request hearings.
The agency also faces staffing challenges beyond judges themselves. Each hearing requires a hearing office staff member to schedule it, prepare the file, and manage the paperwork. These support positions have been harder to fill and retain, which slows the entire process even when judges are available.
Regional differences in hearing wait times
Your location matters more than the national average. Some hearing offices—particularly in less populated states like Montana, Wyoming, and Vermont—are scheduling hearings within 200 to 300 days. Others, especially in California, New York, and Texas, regularly exceed 600 days. A few offices in major metropolitan areas have backlogs approaching 800 days.
The SSA publishes hearing office wait times on its website, updated quarterly. You can search by your hearing office location to see what the current wait is for your region. These numbers shift, but they give you a realistic picture of what to expect. If your office is severely backlogged, you may be able to request a transfer to a neighboring office, though this is not may provide and depends on the SSA's workload distribution at the time you ask.
How video hearings affect your wait time
Video hearings became standard during the pandemic and have remained available in most regions. They do not appear to speed up your wait for a hearing date—you are still in the same queue as people requesting in-person hearings. What they do change is logistics: you can attend from home, you do not need to travel, and the hearing office does not need to reserve a physical room.
Some people report that video hearings feel less formal and allow them to be more comfortable, while others prefer being in the room with the judge. The choice is usually yours to make, and you can request a video hearing when you file your request for hearing or later, when the office contacts you to schedule.
What happens after your hearing is scheduled
Once you receive your hearing date, you typically have 20 to 30 days to prepare. This is when you should gather medical records, contact your doctors for updated statements, and prepare any evidence you want the judge to see. If you are working with a representative—a lawyer or non-lawyer advocate—they will usually handle much of this preparation.
The hearing itself usually lasts 15 to 45 minutes. The judge will ask you about your medical conditions, your work history, and how your conditions affect your ability to work. The judge may also question a vocational informed about whether jobs exist that you could do given your limitations. After the hearing ends, you wait for the written decision, which now typically arrives within 30 to 60 days.
What you can do while waiting for your hearing date
Continue treating with your doctors and keep detailed records of your medical appointments and test results. The judge will want to see ongoing treatment, not just a diagnosis from years ago. If your condition has worsened or changed, make sure your doctors document this in their notes.
If you are represented by a lawyer or advocate, stay in touch with them and respond promptly to any requests for information. If you are not represented, consider whether you want to hire one. Many disability lawyers work on contingency, meaning they are paid only if you win, and their fee is capped by federal law at 25 percent of your back pay (up to $7,200, whichever is less).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do anything to get my hearing scheduled faster?
Not directly. You are in a queue based on the date you requested the hearing. You cannot pay to move up, and requesting multiple times does not help. If your hearing office has an extremely long backlog, you can ask about transferring to a neighboring office, but this is not always possible.
Does my hearing office location affect how long I wait?
Yes, significantly. Some offices schedule hearings in 200 days; others take 700 or more. You can check your specific office's wait time on the SSA website. If you are in a severely backlogged office and live near another office's jurisdiction, you may request a transfer.
Will a video hearing get me a faster decision?
No. Video hearings do not change your place in the queue or speed up the judge's decision. They only change the format—you attend from home instead of traveling to an office. The decision timeline remains the same: 30 to 60 days after your hearing.
What should I do while I wait for my hearing date?
Keep treating with your doctors and ask them to document how your conditions limit your ability to work. Gather medical records, test results, and any other evidence that supports your case. If you do not have a representative, consider whether hiring a disability lawyer would help you prepare.
If I am denied at the hearing, can I appeal?
Yes. You can request that the Appeals Council review the judge's decision. This process typically takes several months to over a year. If the Appeals Council denies you or does not change the decision, you can file a lawsuit in federal court, though this is a longer and more complex process.