Where to check your SSDI status

You can check your SSDI status in three ways: through your my Social Security account online, by calling Social Security directly, or by visiting a local Social Security office in person. The online account is the fastest route and works 24 hours a day. You will need to create or sign into your account at ssa.gov/myaccount.

If you do not have an online account yet, you can set one up in about 10 minutes using your email address, Social Security number, and proof of identity. Social Security uses a third-party service called ID.me to verify who you are — you will either answer security questions or upload a photo ID and take a selfie.

Once you are logged in, your account shows your current benefit amount, payment history, and the status of any pending claims or appeals. If you filed recently and your case is still being reviewed, the account will tell you what stage it is in and what documents Social Security is waiting for.

Key Takeaways

  • Your my Social Security account shows your current benefit amount, payment dates, and the status of any pending claim or appeal in real time.
  • If your case is still being reviewed, the account lists exactly what documents Social Security needs from you and when they need them by.
  • You can call Social Security's national number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time, though wait times are often long.
  • A local Social Security office can answer questions about your specific case but requires an in-person or phone appointment, which you book online or by calling ahead.

What your online account actually shows you

Your my Social Security account displays your current monthly benefit amount, the date your benefits started, and a record of every payment you have received. You can see the exact date and amount of each deposit, which is useful if you need to verify income for taxes or other programs like Medicaid or housing information.

If you filed for SSDI and your case is still under review, the account shows which stage it is in: initial review, reconsideration, or appeal hearing. It also lists any documents Social Security has requested from you, the important date to submit them, and whether they have already received what you sent. This is the single most useful piece of information for someone waiting on a decision.

The account does not show the reasoning behind a denial or the likelihood of approval — it only shows status. If you were denied and want to understand why, you will need to read the official decision letter Social Security mailed to you, or call to ask a representative to explain it.

How to set up your my Social Security account

Go to ssa.gov/myaccount and click "Create an account." You will enter your email address, create a password, and provide your Social Security number. Social Security will then ask you to verify your identity through ID.me, which is a separate company that handles the verification step.

ID.me offers two paths: answer security questions about your financial history (which takes about five minutes), or upload a photo of your driver's license or passport and take a selfie (which takes about two minutes). The photo route is faster and works even if you have little credit history. Once ID.me confirms who you are, you will be logged into your account when ready.

If you already have an account with ID.me from another government agency — the IRS, the VA, or your state's unemployment office — you can use those credentials to sign into my Social Security instead of creating a new one. This saves time if you have verified with ID.me before.

Calling Social Security for status updates

The national Social Security number is 1-800-772-1213. The TTY number for people who are deaf or hard of hearing is 1-800-325-0778. You can call Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. your local time. Social Security does not answer calls on weekends or federal holidays.

Wait times are often 30 minutes or longer, especially early in the week and early in the month. If you call, have your Social Security number ready and be prepared to answer security questions to prove your identity. A representative can tell you the status of your case, what documents are missing, and when you should expect a decision.

If you have a complex case — for example, you are appealing a denial or you have questions about how work will affect your benefits — ask the representative to note your account with the details of your question. This creates a record that a specialist can review, and you may receive a callback from someone with more informed rather than waiting on hold again.

Visiting a local Social Security office

You can visit a Social Security office in person, but you will usually need an appointment. To book one, go to ssa.gov/appts or call 1-800-772-1213 and ask for an appointment. Some offices still accept walk-ins, but this varies by location and is becoming less common.

An in-person visit is useful if you need to submit original documents (like a birth certificate or medical records), if you have questions that require a longer conversation, or if you prefer to speak face-to-face. Bring your Social Security card, a photo ID, and any documents related to your case.

Wait times at offices vary widely. Some offices have short waits; others can be an hour or more. Calling ahead to ask about current wait times before you go can save you a trip.

What to do if your status shows "pending" for a long time

If your case has been pending for longer than Social Security said it would take, log into your account and check whether any documents are listed as missing or overdue. If documents are listed, submit them when ready — a missing form or medical record can pause your case indefinitely.

If no documents are listed as missing but your case is still pending beyond the expected timeframe, call 1-800-772-1213 and ask a representative to check for delays. Sometimes cases get stuck in a queue or are waiting for a medical review that has not been scheduled yet. A representative can sometimes move your case forward or at least tell you what is causing the delay.

If you filed an appeal and your hearing has not been scheduled within 75 days, you can contact your representative (if you have one) or call Social Security to ask about the wait. Hearing offices have different backlogs, and some are much slower than others, but you have the right to know where you stand in the queue.

Understanding the stages of a pending SSDI case

When you file for SSDI, your case moves through predictable stages, and your online account should show which one you are in. The initial review stage is when Social Security's disability examiner is reviewing your medical records and work history — this usually takes 3 to 5 months. If you are denied at this stage, you move to reconsideration, which is a second review by a different examiner and takes another 3 to 5 months.

If you are denied again, you can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. This stage can take 6 months to over a year depending on the backlog in your region. Your online account will show "Hearing Pending" once your hearing is scheduled, and it will list the date and time.

After the hearing, the judge issues a decision within a few weeks to a few months. Your account will update to show whether you were approved or denied. If you are approved, it will show the date your benefits begin and your monthly amount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my account say "pending" but Social Security sent me a letter saying I was denied?

Your online account may not update when ready when a decision letter is mailed. Check your mailbox for an official letter from Social Security — that is the legal decision. Your account should update within a few days, but the letter is what counts. If you disagree with the denial, you have 60 days from the date on the letter to file an appeal.

Can I check someone else's SSDI status if I have power of attorney?

No. Only the person receiving SSDI can log into the my Social Security account. If you are a representative payee or have power of attorney, you can call 1-800-772-1213 with the beneficiary's Social Security number and answer security questions, but you cannot access the online account. You will need to call or visit an office in person.

What if I cannot create a my Social Security account because ID.me will not verify me?

Call 1-800-772-1213 and explain that you are having trouble with ID.me verification. A representative can sometimes verify you over the phone instead and create your account manually. This takes longer but works if you do not have a driver's license or passport, or if your documents do not match your current information.

How often does my account update with new information?

Your account updates in real time for payment history and benefit amounts. Status updates for pending cases usually appear within one business day of a change, but can take up to a few days. If you submitted documents, check back after three business days to see whether Social Security has recorded receipt of them.

Can I message Social Security through my online account?

No. The my Social Security account does not have a messaging feature. To contact Social Security, you must call 1-800-772-1213, visit an office in person, or use the online message center if you have a representative payee account (which is different from the regular beneficiary account).