The Wait From Request to Hearing Date

When you request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), you will not get a date when ready. The Social Security Administration (SSA) assigns you to a hearing office based on where you live, and that office maintains its own queue. Most people wait between 6 and 18 months from the date they request a hearing until the day they sit down with the judge. Some offices move faster; others slower. The wait depends on how many cases are ahead of you, how many judges work at your office, and whether SSA has funding to hire additional staff that year.

You will receive written notice of your hearing date by mail. SSA sends this notice at least 20 days before the hearing. If you do not receive it, call your local hearing office directly — do not assume the date was never set. The office will have your hearing scheduled in their system even if the mail is delayed.

Key Takeaways

  • Most ALJ hearing offices schedule hearings 6 to 18 months after you request one, though this varies significantly by location and current caseload.
  • SSA must send you written notice of your hearing date at least 20 days in advance, and you can call your local hearing office to confirm the date if you have not received the notice.
  • Hearing offices in large cities and rural areas often have different wait times, and some offices have moved to video hearings to reduce delays.
  • You can request a postponement if the scheduled date does not work, but doing so usually adds several more months to your wait.
  • Your medical evidence and work history should be submitted to SSA before your hearing date, not after, because the judge will base the decision on what is in the file on hearing day.

Why the Wait Is So Long

The SSA hearing system is backlogged. As of recent years, the national average wait time has grown because the number of people requesting hearings has increased while the number of judges has not kept pace. Each ALJ can hold only a limited number of hearings per month — typically 8 to 12 — and each hearing takes time for preparation, the hearing itself, and writing the decision afterward.

Hearing offices are not evenly staffed. A large city office may have 10 judges; a rural office may have one. If you live in a rural area, you may wait longer, or you may be offered a video hearing with a judge in another state. Some offices have closed temporarily due to staffing shortages or building issues, which pushes cases to neighboring offices and extends waits further.

SSA also prioritizes certain cases. If you are over 75 years old, your case may move up in the queue. Cases involving medical conditions that are clearly severe may also be expedited, though this is not automatic — you would need to request it and provide supporting evidence.

Variation by Hearing Office Location

Wait times differ dramatically by region. Offices in the Northeast and Midwest have historically had longer waits than offices in the South or West, though this changes year to year. Some offices have wait times under 6 months; others exceed 24 months. You cannot choose your hearing office — it is assigned based on your address — but you can find out what the current wait is at your office by calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213 and asking to speak with someone at your local hearing office.

The SSA publishes wait-time data by office on its website, though the data is often several months old by the time it appears. The most current information comes directly from your hearing office. When you call, ask for the average wait time for new cases, not the average for all cases, because offices sometimes report both figures and they can differ significantly.

Video Hearings and Expedited Options

Many hearing offices now conduct hearings by video instead of in person. A video hearing can sometimes be scheduled faster than an in-person hearing because the judge does not need to be in the same room as you. You will sit in a private room at a local SSA office or a contracted video facility, and the judge will appear on a screen. The hearing works the same way as an in-person hearing — you testify, your representative (if you have one) presents your case, and the judge asks questions.

If your hearing office offers video hearings and you are willing to do one, mention this when you call to check your wait time. Some offices will move you to an earlier video date if you request it. However, you have the right to request an in-person hearing instead, and SSA must grant that request, though it may add months to your wait.

Expedited hearings are rare and require a specific reason. You can request one if you are terminally ill, over 75, or facing severe financial hardship, but SSA does not grant these requests automatically. You must submit a written request with supporting evidence — a doctor's letter for terminal illness, your birth certificate for age, or documentation of hardship — to your hearing office. Even then, approval is not may provide.

What Happens Between Request and Hearing Date

After you request a hearing, SSA sends you a notice telling you that your case is in the queue. This notice does not include a hearing date yet. You will then wait while your case moves through the office's backlog. During this time, you should continue to submit any new medical evidence to SSA. Do not wait until the hearing date is set to send records — send them as soon as you have them, because the judge will only see evidence that is in your file before the hearing.

About 20 days before your hearing, you will receive a notice in the mail with the date, time, and location (or video link). This notice also tells you what documents SSA has in your file and gives you a chance to object if something is missing. If you notice that important medical records are missing, call your hearing office when ready and ask them to add the records to your file before the hearing date.

If you have a representative — a lawyer or non-lawyer advocate — they should receive a copy of the hearing notice at the same time you do. Make sure your representative's contact information is correct in your file, or they may not get the notice and may not be prepared for the hearing.

Postponing Your Hearing and Rescheduling

If the scheduled hearing date does not work for you, you can request a postponement. You must request it in writing or by phone before the hearing date. SSA will usually grant one postponement without requiring a reason, but a second postponement requires a good reason — a medical emergency, a death in the family, or a conflict you cannot avoid. If you postpone, expect to wait another 3 to 12 months for a new date, depending on your office's backlog at that time.

Do not miss your hearing date without requesting a postponement. If you do not show up and do not have a good reason, SSA may dismiss your case, and you will have to start the appeal process over from the beginning. If you cannot make the date and realize it only a few days before, call your hearing office when ready and explain why. Some offices will reschedule if you call in time; others will not.

Preparing While You Wait

The months you spend waiting are not wasted time. Use this period to gather medical evidence, get updated treatment records from your doctors, and organize your work history. Write down the dates you worked, the jobs you held, and the physical and mental demands of each job. If you have not seen a doctor recently, schedule an appointment and describe all of your symptoms and limitations. The judge will want to know what your condition is like now, not what it was like years ago.

If you do not have a representative yet, consider hiring one. Disability representatives — either lawyers or non-lawyer advocates certified by SSA — know how judges think and what evidence matters most. They can also attend your hearing with you, which takes pressure off you and often leads to better outcomes. Most representatives work on contingency, meaning they are paid only if you win, and SSA caps their fee at 25 percent of your back pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find out my exact hearing date before I receive the notice in the mail?

Yes. Call your local hearing office and give them your Social Security number. They can tell you the date, time, and location of your hearing. Do not rely only on the mail notice — if it is delayed, calling ahead ensures you know when to show up.

What if I move to a different state before my hearing date?

Contact your hearing office as soon as possible and tell them your new address. Your case will be transferred to the hearing office in your new state. This may change your wait time — it could be shorter or longer depending on the new office's backlog. Your hearing date will likely be rescheduled.

Does requesting a hearing stop my ongoing medical treatment from affecting my case?

No. Even after you request a hearing, continue all medical treatment your doctors recommend. The judge will look at your entire medical record up to the hearing date. If you stop treatment, the judge may assume your condition improved, which can hurt your case.

Can my representative attend the hearing if I cannot?

Your representative can attend and present your case, but you should attend if at all possible. The judge may want to ask you questions directly about your symptoms and daily life. If you cannot attend for a medical reason, tell your representative and your hearing office in advance so the judge knows why you are not there.

What happens if SSA loses my file before the hearing?

This is rare, but if it happens, contact your hearing office when ready. Ask them to reconstruct your file by requesting records from your doctors and former employers. You may also request a postponement to give SSA time to gather the missing evidence. Document everything in writing and keep copies for yourself.