The current wait time for a disabled veteran's SSDI hearing

A disabled veteran waiting for an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing on an SSDI claim typically waits between 12 and 24 months from the date the Social Security Administration (SSA) sends the case to the hearing office. Some veterans in high-volume cities wait longer — up to 30 months or more. Some in rural areas or less congested hearing offices may see a hearing sooner, sometimes within 10 months. The exact timeline depends on the hearing office that handles your case, how many cases are ahead of yours, and whether SSA prioritizes your case.

Veterans do not receive priority in the hearing queue straightforward because they are veterans. SSDI hearing wait times are the same for all claimants at a given hearing office. However, a few narrow circumstances can move a case forward: if you are over 75 years old, if you are terminally ill, or if you have a dire financial need that SSA documents and approves. These are called on-the-record decisions or compassionate allowances, and they are rare.

Key Takeaways

  • Most disabled veterans wait 12 to 24 months for an ALJ hearing, with some waiting longer depending on the hearing office location and caseload.
  • Being a veteran does not move you ahead in the hearing queue — wait times are the same as for all other SSDI claimants at that office.
  • You can request a hearing be scheduled sooner only if you are over 75, terminally ill, or have documented dire financial hardship that SSA approves.
  • The hearing office will send you a notice with the hearing date at least 20 days before the scheduled date, giving you time to prepare or request a postponement.
  • You can represent yourself or hire a lawyer; many disability lawyers work on contingency and take no fee unless you win.

Why the wait is so long

The Social Security Administration has far more hearing requests than it has judges to hear them. In fiscal year 2023, SSA's Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) received over 600,000 new hearing requests but had only about 1,500 ALJs nationwide. Each judge can hold roughly 1,000 to 1,200 hearings per year, depending on case complexity and administrative duties. The math is straightforward: demand far exceeds capacity.

Hearing offices are not equally busy. A hearing office in a major city like Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York may have a backlog of 30,000 or more cases waiting. A hearing office in a smaller city or rural area may have only a few thousand. When your case is sent to the hearing office, it joins a queue ordered by the date it arrived. The office schedules hearings in roughly the order cases came in, though some cases are pulled out of order for the reasons noted above.

Congress has not funded enough ALJ positions to clear the backlog. The number of judges has remained relatively flat for years while the number of claims has grown. This structural shortage, not individual hearing office mismanagement, is why the wait exists.

How to find out your specific wait time

You can look up the current average wait time for your hearing office on the Social Security Administration's website. SSA publishes average processing times by hearing office on its ODAR page. Search for your state and city, and you will see the median wait time in months. This is the time from when your case arrives at the hearing office to when you have your hearing.

You can also call your local hearing office directly and ask where your case stands. You will need your Social Security number and the date your case was sent to the hearing office. The office staff can tell you roughly how many cases are ahead of yours and give you an estimate based on current scheduling. This estimate is more accurate than the published average because it reflects the actual queue on the day you call.

Your representative — if you have hired one — can also call the hearing office and ask for a status update. Lawyers and non-lawyer representatives have direct phone lines to hearing offices and can often get more detailed information than a claimant calling on their own.

What happens while you wait

While your case is in the hearing queue, you are not earning work credits or building your case further. Your medical records, test results, and doctor's statements are already in the file that the ALJ will review. You can submit new medical evidence up until the day of your hearing, and you should do so if you have recent test results, new diagnoses, or updated statements from your doctors.

You do not have to do anything while you wait. You do not need to check in with SSA or the hearing office. Your case will move through the queue on its own schedule. However, you should keep SSA informed of any address or phone number changes, because the hearing office will mail your hearing notice to the address SSA has on file. If you move and do not update your address, you may miss your hearing date.

If your financial or medical situation becomes dire — for example, if you are diagnosed with a terminal illness or your living situation becomes unstable — you can ask SSA to prioritize your case. This request must be in writing and must include documentation of the hardship. Send it to the hearing office, not to your local SSA field office. Approval is not may provide, but it is worth requesting if your circumstances have changed significantly.

Requesting a hearing date sooner

You cannot straightforward ask to move up in the queue. However, you can request that your hearing be scheduled at a different hearing office if one nearby has a shorter wait. For example, if your case is at a hearing office with a 24-month wait but another office 50 miles away has a 14-month wait, you can ask SSA to transfer your case. The request must be in writing and must explain why the transfer is reasonable — usually because you live closer to the other office or have a doctor there.

You can also request a video hearing instead of an in-person hearing. Video hearings are sometimes scheduled sooner because they do not require the judge and claimant to be in the same room. However, this varies by hearing office. Some offices schedule video hearings at the same pace as in-person hearings. Ask your representative or the hearing office directly whether a video hearing would shorten your wait.

If you are represented by a lawyer, the lawyer can sometimes negotiate with the hearing office to schedule your case sooner if there are unusual circumstances — for example, if you are very ill or if a key witness is available only on certain dates. These requests are not always granted, but they are worth making.

What to do when you receive your hearing notice

When the hearing office is ready to schedule your hearing, it will mail you a Notice of Hearing. This notice will include the date, time, and location of your hearing, or the instructions for joining a video hearing. The notice must be sent at least 20 days before the hearing date. Read it carefully and note the date and time.

If you cannot make the scheduled date, you can request a postponement. You must request it in writing and explain why you cannot attend. Common reasons include illness, a doctor's appointment you cannot reschedule, or a family emergency. The hearing office will usually grant one postponement, though it may reschedule you months later. Do not straightforward miss your hearing — if you do not show up and do not have a good reason, the ALJ may dismiss your case or issue a decision without hearing from you.

If you are represented, your lawyer will receive a copy of the hearing notice and will contact you to prepare. If you are not represented, you should begin gathering any new medical evidence and preparing to explain your condition and why you cannot work. You can bring documents, medical records, or a witness to the hearing.

Representation and the hearing process

You have the right to represent yourself at your hearing, but most claimants who win have a representative — either a lawyer or a non-lawyer representative certified by SSA. A representative can review your file before the hearing, identify weak spots, request that SSA obtain missing medical records, and argue your case to the judge.

Most disability lawyers work on contingency, meaning they take no fee unless you win. If you win, the lawyer's fee is capped by federal law at 25 percent of your back pay (the money SSA owes you from the date you became disabled to the date of approval), up to a maximum of $7,200. You pay nothing upfront. Non-lawyer representatives charge a flat fee, usually $100 to $300, and you pay it whether you win or lose.

Finding a representative does not shorten your wait for a hearing. However, it often improves your chances of winning, which means you receive benefits sooner after the hearing is held.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my hearing sooner if I am a veteran?

No. Veterans do not receive priority in the SSDI hearing queue. Your wait time is the same as any other claimant at your hearing office. However, if you are over 75, terminally ill, or have documented dire financial hardship, you can request SSA prioritize your case — this applies to all claimants, not just veterans.

What if I move to a different state while I am waiting?

Your case will be transferred to the hearing office in your new state. The wait time at the new office may be shorter or longer. Update your address with SSA as soon as you move so the hearing office can mail your hearing notice to the correct address.

Can my lawyer make the hearing office schedule me sooner?

Not in the normal queue. However, a lawyer can request a transfer to a less busy hearing office, request a video hearing, or request priority if you have unusual circumstances like terminal illness. These requests are not always granted, but they are worth making.

What happens if I miss my hearing date?

If you do not show up and do not contact the hearing office beforehand, the ALJ may dismiss your case or issue a decision without hearing from you. If you have a good reason for missing it, request a new hearing date in writing as soon as possible. You will likely be rescheduled, but months later.

How long after my hearing will I get a decision?

Most ALJs issue a written decision within 30 to 90 days of your hearing. Some take longer, especially if the case is complex. The judge will mail the decision to you and to your representative if you have one. If you disagree with the decision, you have 60 days to request that SSA's Appeals Council review it.