How Long Reconsideration Actually Takes

A reconsideration decision typically takes three to six months from the date Social Security receives your request. This is not a target or average — it is the official processing window Social Security publishes. Some cases move faster; many take longer, especially if your file requires a new medical evaluation or if the local office has a backlog.

The clock starts when Social Security's Appeals office receives your written reconsideration request, not when you mail it or submit it online. If you submitted your request more than four months ago and have heard nothing, you are in the normal range. If you are past six months, delays are happening, and you have options to find out why and push the process forward.

Key Takeaways

  • Reconsideration decisions take three to six months as a standard window, and many cases exceed six months without that meaning something has gone wrong.
  • You can call the local Social Security office handling your case to ask for a status update after four months have passed.
  • If your case is delayed because Social Security is waiting for medical records from your doctor, you can contact your doctor's office directly to push those records to Social Security faster.
  • If reconsideration takes longer than nine months, you can request escalation to the next appeal level (hearing before an administrative law judge) without waiting for the reconsideration decision.
  • Delays often happen because Social Security needs updated medical evidence, so providing complete records upfront can shorten the timeline.

Why Reconsideration Takes So Long

Social Security's reconsideration process requires a second review of your entire file by a different examiner than the one who denied you the first time. That examiner must obtain medical records from your doctors, review them, and write a detailed decision explaining why they are approving or denying you. If your doctors are slow to send records or if you have seen multiple providers, this step alone can add two to three months.

Backlogs at your local Social Security office also matter. Some offices process reconsiderations in four months; others take eight or nine months because they are understaffed or handling a surge of cases. You have no control over this, but you can find out whether your case is stuck in a queue or actively being worked.

A third reason for delay is that Social Security may order a new medical evaluation (called a Consultative Examination, or CE) if your medical records are old or incomplete. Scheduling the exam, having it performed, and waiting for the report can add four to six weeks to your timeline.

How to Check the Status of Your Reconsideration

After four months have passed since you submitted your reconsideration request, call the local Social Security office that is handling your case. You can find the phone number by visiting ssa.gov, clicking "Locations," and entering your zip code. When you call, have your Social Security number ready and ask specifically: "What is the status of my reconsideration case, and what is Social Security waiting for?"

The representative should tell you one of three things: the case is under review and on schedule; the case is waiting for medical records from a specific doctor; or the case has been assigned for a Consultative Examination and a date is being scheduled. If they tell you the case is waiting for records, ask for the name and fax number of the doctor Social Security is trying to reach, and contact that doctor's office yourself to confirm they received the request and to ask when records will be sent.

If the representative cannot tell you anything specific, ask to speak with a supervisor or ask them to place a note on your file requesting a status update. Document the date you called, the name of the representative, and what they told you.

Pushing Medical Records Through Faster

Delays caused by missing medical records are the most common reason reconsideration takes longer than six months. If Social Security is waiting for records from your doctor, you do not have to wait passively. Call your doctor's office and ask: "Did Social Security send you a request for my medical records? If so, when will you send them?"

Many doctor's offices receive requests from Social Security but do not prioritize them because they are busy with patient care. If your doctor's office says they received the request but have not sent the records, ask them to fax the records directly to Social Security's Appeals office. You can provide them with the fax number by calling your local Social Security office and asking for the Appeals office fax line.

If your doctor's office says they never received a request, ask Social Security to resend it. When you call Social Security, provide the doctor's fax number and ask them to confirm they are sending the request that day. Some offices will do this; others will tell you they already sent it and cannot resend it. If that happens, you can ask your doctor to send records directly to Social Security even without a formal request — Social Security will accept them.

What to Do If Reconsideration Exceeds Nine Months

If your reconsideration decision has not arrived after nine months, you have the right to request that Social Security move your case to the next level of appeal: a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). You do not have to wait for the reconsideration decision to arrive. This is called a "request for hearing" and it restarts the clock on a new timeline.

To request a hearing, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 and tell them you want to request a hearing on your reconsideration case. Ask them to send you a form (the HA-501) to sign and return. Once Social Security receives your signed request, your case moves out of the reconsideration queue and into the hearing queue, which typically takes four to six months (though some cases take longer).

Before you request a hearing, understand that you are giving up the reconsideration decision. If the reconsideration examiner was about to approve you, you will not know it because your case has moved on. Most people in this situation request the hearing anyway because waiting another three to six months for a reconsideration decision that may still be a denial is not worth the risk.

What Happens While You Wait

While your reconsideration is pending, you can continue to work and earn income without affecting the outcome. Social Security is reviewing your case based on the medical evidence and work history you had at the time of your original denial, not on what you are doing now. If your condition has worsened or you have new medical evidence, you can submit it in writing to the Appeals office at any time before a decision is made.

If you are in financial hardship while waiting, you may be able to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or other benefits while your reconsideration is pending. This is a separate process and depends on your income and resources. Contact your local Social Security office to ask whether you are may be able to access for SSI while you wait.

Do not assume that a long delay means your case is being denied. Delays happen for administrative reasons, not because Social Security is leaning toward a particular decision. The examiner reviewing your case has not made a decision until you receive the written notice in the mail.

Documents to Keep While Waiting

Keep a record of every communication you have with Social Security about your reconsideration. This includes the date you submitted your request, the date you called for a status update, the name of the representative you spoke with, and what they told you. If Social Security later claims they never received your request or that you did not submit it on time, this record protects you.

Also keep copies of any medical records you submitted with your reconsideration request, and keep a list of the doctors you have seen since your original denial. If you receive new medical evidence (test results, doctor's notes, hospital records), send a copy to Social Security's Appeals office in writing and keep a copy for yourself. Include a cover letter with your name, Social Security number, and a brief note explaining what the records show and why they are relevant to your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I call Social Security every week to check on my reconsideration?

You can call, but representatives cannot tell you anything new if the case is still under review. Calling more than once a month is unlikely to speed up the process. Instead, call once after four months have passed, and then again after six months if you have not heard anything. Use those calls to ask specific questions: what records are missing, or whether a Consultative Examination has been scheduled.

What if Social Security says my reconsideration will take longer than nine months?

Social Security cannot promise a specific timeline beyond the three- to six-month window. If a representative tells you it will take longer, ask why — usually it is because they are waiting for medical records or scheduling an exam. Ask what you can do to speed it up. If they cannot give you a reason, you can request a hearing to move to the next appeal level.

Does requesting a hearing while reconsideration is pending hurt my chances?

No. Requesting a hearing does not affect how a judge will review your case. It straightforward moves your case to a different queue. The judge will review the same medical evidence and work history that the reconsideration examiner would have reviewed.

If I get a job while waiting for reconsideration, will that hurt my case?

No. Social Security reviews your case based on your medical condition and work history at the time of your original denial, not on what you are doing while you wait. Working does not change the outcome of your reconsideration.

What should I do if I move while my reconsideration is pending?

Call your local Social Security office and tell them your new address. Ask them to update your file and confirm that your reconsideration case is still assigned to the same office. Provide your new address in writing as well, so there is a record of it. If Social Security sends a decision notice to your old address and you do not receive it, you may miss the important date to request a hearing.