Processing times in 2017 varied widely by state and claim type

In 2017, the Social Security Administration (SSA) took an average of 3 to 6 months to make an initial decision on an SSDI claim, though some states processed claims in under 90 days while others took a year or longer. The time depended on which state you lived in, whether you appealed a denial, and how quickly you submitted required medical evidence. Initial claims went to your state's Disability information Services (DDS) office first—not directly to SSA—and that office's workload and staffing determined how fast your case moved.

If SSA denied your claim, the appeal process added another 4 to 12 months on top of the initial decision time. Reconsideration (the first appeal level) was reviewed by a different DDS examiner and typically took 3 to 6 months. If you requested a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), the wait stretched to 12 months or longer in many states because ALJs had significant case backlogs in 2017.

Key Takeaways

  • Initial SSDI decisions in 2017 averaged 3 to 6 months, but ranged from under 90 days in fast states to over a year in slow ones.
  • Your state's Disability information Services office, not SSA headquarters, made the initial decision, and each state had different processing speeds.
  • Reconsideration appeals added 3 to 6 months, and ALJ hearings added 12 months or more because judges had large case backlogs.
  • Submitting complete medical records upfront shortened processing time; missing or incomplete evidence caused delays of weeks or months.

Why processing times varied so much between states

Each state ran its own DDS office under contract with SSA, and staffing levels, case volume, and local procedures differed significantly. In 2017, states like Utah and Colorado processed initial claims faster than the national average, while states like New York and California had longer waits because they received more claims and had older case management systems. A state's population size did not always predict speed—some large states moved cases quickly while some small states had backlogs.

The DDS office also had to wait for medical evidence from your doctors. If your doctor's office was slow to send records, or if SSA had to request records multiple times, your case sat in a queue. Incomplete applications—missing work history, missing medical providers' names, or unsigned forms—added weeks to the timeline because DDS had to contact you for corrections before they could even begin reviewing your medical evidence.

Initial claim processing: what happened during those months

When you filed an SSDI claim in 2017, SSA sent it to your state's DDS office within 1 to 2 weeks. The DDS office then requested medical records from every doctor, hospital, and mental health provider you listed. This request-and-wait phase often took 4 to 8 weeks because medical offices were slow to respond and sometimes required payment for records.

Once DDS had your records, a medical consultant and a disability examiner reviewed them together. They checked whether your condition met SSA's definition of disability—meaning you could not work for at least 12 months or the condition was terminal. This review typically took 2 to 4 weeks. If the evidence was straightforward, the decision came faster. If your condition was complex or borderline, the examiner might request additional records or a consultative examination (a medical exam SSA paid for), which added another 4 to 8 weeks.

Reconsideration and appeal timelines

If DDS denied your claim, you had 60 days to request reconsideration. A different examiner at the same DDS office reviewed your case from scratch, which took another 3 to 6 months. Reconsideration did not usually move faster than the initial review because the second examiner had to repeat the same steps: requesting records, reviewing medical evidence, and writing a decision.

If reconsideration was also denied, you could request a hearing before an ALJ. In 2017, ALJ hearing wait times were severe in many regions. The national average was 12 to 18 months, though some hearing offices had waits of 2 years or more. Hearing offices in rural areas sometimes moved faster because they had fewer cases, while offices in major cities had backlogs of thousands of pending hearings. You could work with a disability representative or attorney to prepare your case during this wait, which often improved your chances at the hearing.

What slowed down processing in 2017

Missing or incomplete medical evidence was the single largest cause of delay. If you did not list all your doctors, or if a doctor's office took months to send records, your case stalled. SSA could not make a decision without medical proof of your condition. Some applicants had to wait 2 to 3 months just for records to arrive.

Incomplete applications also caused delays. If you did not fill out all sections of the SSA-16 form, or if your work history was vague, DDS contacted you by mail to ask for corrections. This back-and-forth added 2 to 4 weeks per round. If you did not respond within 10 days, SSA might close your case, and you would have to start over.

Medical evidence that was unclear or conflicting also slowed decisions. If your records showed you had a condition but did not explain how it limited your ability to work, the examiner might order a consultative examination. This added 4 to 8 weeks because SSA had to schedule the exam, you had to attend it, and then the doctor had to send the report back to DDS.

How to track your claim status in 2017

In 2017, you could check your claim status by calling SSA's main number (1-800-772-1213) and speaking to a representative, or by visiting your local Social Security office in person. SSA did not have a real-time online portal where you could see your case status; you had to call or visit. Representatives could tell you whether your case was still under review, whether SSA was waiting for medical records, or whether a decision had been made.

If you had a representative or attorney, they could call SSA on your behalf and sometimes got faster answers because they had a dedicated phone line for representatives. Keeping your contact information current with SSA was important—if your address or phone number changed and SSA could not reach you, your case could be delayed or closed.

Processing times after 2017: what changed

SSA's processing times have fluctuated since 2017 based on staffing, funding, and case volume. In some years, initial processing times improved slightly; in others, they worsened. The ALJ hearing backlog remained a persistent problem through the 2020s, with waits often exceeding 18 months.

If you filed a claim years after 2017, your actual processing time may have been different from what happened in 2017. Checking current SSA data for your state gives you a more accurate picture of what to expect today rather than relying on 2017 figures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did processing take so long in 2017?

SSA had limited staff relative to the number of claims, and each claim required gathering medical records from multiple providers, which took weeks. DDS offices also had to review complex medical evidence and sometimes order additional exams. Incomplete applications and missing records added weeks or months to individual cases.

Could you speed up processing by hiring a representative in 2017?

A representative or attorney could not make SSA process your case faster, but they could help you submit complete evidence upfront, which prevented delays from missing information. They also had a dedicated phone line to check status, so they got answers faster than applicants calling the main number.

What happened if you missed a important date during processing in 2017?

If SSA asked for information and you did not respond within 10 days, your case could be closed. You would have to file a new claim and start over, losing the original filing date. Missing a important date cost you months of processing time and potentially months of back pay.

Did processing times improve after you appealed a denial?

No. Reconsideration took as long as the initial review (3 to 6 months), and ALJ hearings took even longer (12 to 18 months or more). Appealing did not speed up the process; it only added more time before you got a final decision.

How did 2017 processing times compare to other years?

2017 was roughly average for that decade. Processing times have varied year to year based on SSA's budget and staffing. Some years were faster, some slower. Current processing times may differ significantly from 2017, so checking SSA's latest data for your state gives you a better picture of what to expect today.