Reconsideration Processing Times Are Set by Social Security, Not Your Local Office

A reconsideration appeal at the Social Security Administration typically takes three to six months from the date you file until you receive a decision. Some cases move faster; others take longer. The timeline depends on how many appeals are in the queue ahead of yours, whether your medical evidence is complete, and whether the examiner needs to order new medical records from your doctors.

Social Security does not publish a national average processing time for reconsiderations. The agency measures performance by office, and those numbers change monthly. What matters for your case is that you are waiting in a line, and that line does not move at a fixed speed.

You cannot speed up a reconsideration by calling your local office, requesting expedited review, or submitting additional documents after you file. Social Security's process is sequential: your file moves through intake, then to a disability examiner, then to a medical consultant, then to a decision writer. Each step takes time, and skipping steps is not an option.

Key Takeaways

  • Reconsideration decisions typically arrive three to six months after you file, though some cases take longer depending on the workload at your regional office.
  • Social Security processes reconsiderations in a fixed order—intake, examiner review, medical consultant review, decision—and you cannot move ahead of other cases in line.
  • Incomplete medical evidence is the most common reason a reconsideration takes longer than six months, because the examiner must wait for records from your doctors.
  • You can check the status of your reconsideration by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, but the answer will usually be "it is still being reviewed."
  • If your reconsideration takes longer than nine months, you have the right to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge without waiting for the reconsideration decision.

Why Medical Records Are the Biggest Cause of Delay

The examiner assigned to your reconsideration cannot make a decision without current medical evidence. If your file does not include recent treatment records—usually from the past three months—the examiner will request them from your doctors. That request goes out, your doctor's office receives it, someone in that office locates your chart, copies the records, and mails them back. This cycle often takes four to eight weeks.

If your doctor's office is slow to respond, or if you have seen multiple doctors and records must be gathered from several places, the delay compounds. The examiner cannot move forward until all the records arrive. Once they do, the examiner must read them, and the medical consultant must review them for medical soundness. Only then can a decision be written.

You can reduce this delay by gathering your own medical records before you file your reconsideration and including them with your appeal. Contact each doctor or clinic you have seen in the past year and request copies of your visit notes, test results, and any diagnoses or treatment plans. Bring these records with you when you file, or mail them with your reconsideration form. This does not may provide a faster decision, but it removes one reason the examiner might have to wait.

Regional Office Workload Affects How Long Your Case Sits in Queue

Social Security has ten regional offices, each handling reconsiderations for a specific set of states. The office that handles your case depends on where you live, not where you filed. If you live in New York, your reconsideration goes to the New York regional office. If you live in Texas, it goes to the Dallas office. You cannot choose which office reviews your case.

Each regional office has a different backlog. Some offices process reconsiderations in three months; others take six or more. The backlog changes with staffing, retirements, and the number of new appeals filed in that region. Social Security does not publish these numbers in a way that lets you know your office's current wait time before you file.

If you file your reconsideration in January and the office is understaffed, your case may not be assigned to an examiner until March or April. That delay is not a sign that something is wrong with your case—it is a sign that the office is working through cases in the order they arrived.

What "Still Under Review" Actually Means at Each Stage

When you call Social Security to check on your reconsideration, you will hear that it is "still under review." That phrase covers several different stages, and knowing which stage you are in helps you understand how much longer you might wait.

Intake stage (weeks 1–4): Your reconsideration form is being scanned, logged into the system, and prepared for assignment. Your file is being assembled from Social Security's records.

Examiner assignment and initial review (weeks 4–12): An examiner has your file and is reading your medical evidence and work history. If records are missing, the examiner requests them now. This is the longest stage for most cases.

Medical consultant review (weeks 8–16): A doctor employed by Social Security reviews the medical evidence to confirm it supports or contradicts a disability finding. This happens while the examiner is still working, not after.

Decision writing (weeks 12–20): The examiner writes the decision letter explaining why you were approved or denied. This stage is usually quick once the medical review is complete.

When you call and hear "still under review," you are almost certainly in the examiner assignment or medical consultant stage. Calling again in two weeks will not move you forward; it will return the same answer.

When Nine Months Have Passed, You Can Request a Hearing

If your reconsideration has been pending for more than nine months, you have a right under Social Security rules to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge without waiting for the reconsideration decision to arrive. This is called escalation to hearing, and it is a real option when the wait becomes unreasonable.

To request escalation, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and tell them you want to escalate your reconsideration to a hearing because it has been more than nine months. Ask them to document your request in writing and send you a confirmation letter. You can also write a letter to your local Social Security office requesting escalation and keep a copy for your records.

Escalation does not may provide a faster decision—a hearing can take several more months to schedule. But it does move your case out of the regional office queue and into the hearing office queue, which sometimes moves faster. More importantly, it signals that you are aware of your rights and are not passively waiting.

How to Check Your Reconsideration Status Without Calling

You can check the status of your reconsideration online through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Log in, go to "Manage Your Case," and look for your appeal. The system will show you the date you filed and sometimes a brief status update, though the update is often generic ("under review").

The online status is updated less frequently than the information a representative can see when you call, so calling 1-800-772-1213 will sometimes give you a more current answer. When you call, have your Social Security number ready and ask specifically whether your file is waiting for medical records, whether it has been assigned to an examiner, or whether it is in the medical consultant stage. A representative can see these details even if they cannot speed up the process.

Do not call more than once a month. Calling weekly will not move your case forward and will use time that Social Security representatives could spend on other callers.

What Happens If Your Reconsideration Is Denied

If Social Security denies your reconsideration, you have the right to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. You have 60 days from the date on the denial letter to request a hearing. This is a hard important date; if you miss it, you lose the right to a hearing and must start the appeal process over.

A hearing usually takes two to four months to schedule after you request it. During that time, you can submit new medical evidence, and the judge will consider it. Many people who were denied at reconsideration are approved at the hearing stage because they have new medical records or can explain their condition in person.

If you are approved at reconsideration, you will receive a decision letter explaining the approval and information about when your benefits will begin. Back pay (benefits owed from the date you originally filed) is usually paid within two to four weeks of approval.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I ask Social Security to prioritize my reconsideration because I am running out of money?

No. Social Security does not have a process for prioritizing reconsiderations based on financial hardship. Cases are reviewed in the order they arrive at the regional office. If you are facing eviction or homelessness, contact your local emergency information programs or 211 for help with when ready needs while you wait for your decision.

What if my doctor says my condition has gotten worse since I filed my initial claim?

New medical evidence showing worsening condition can strengthen your reconsideration. Contact your doctor and ask for recent visit notes, test results, and any new diagnoses. Mail these records to your local Social Security office with a cover letter explaining that this is new evidence for your reconsideration appeal. Include your Social Security number and the date you filed your reconsideration.

Does Social Security ever approve a reconsideration faster than three months?

Yes, but it is uncommon. If your medical evidence clearly supports disability and is already in your file, an examiner might make a decision in six to eight weeks. Cases with straightforward diagnoses and recent treatment records move faster than complex cases requiring multiple medical records or specialist opinions.

If I request a hearing to escalate my reconsideration, do I lose my place in the reconsideration queue?

No. Your reconsideration continues to be processed, and if a decision arrives before your hearing is scheduled, you will receive it. Requesting a hearing does not cancel the reconsideration; it creates a second path forward in case the reconsideration takes too long.

Should I hire a lawyer to speed up my reconsideration?

A lawyer cannot speed up Social Security's processing timeline. Lawyers become useful at the hearing stage, where they can present evidence and cross-examine medical experts. At reconsideration, a lawyer can may support your file is complete and your medical evidence is well-organized, but the examiner will still review your case in the order it arrives.