Some people get approved quickly for benefits. Others may wait months, or even years.

As a general rule, the Social Security Administration (SSA) says it takes three to five months to make a decision on your initial Disability application. The time frame may depend on:

• The nature of your disability
• Whether SSA received the necessary medical information from doctors and hospitals
• Whether it is necessary to send you for additional medical examinations

Because there is no specific time frame, we encourage disabled individuals to file their disability application as soon as possible. The sooner you file, the sooner you will receive a decision.

It’s important to point out that from 2010 through 2019, approximately only 20 percent of applicants were awarded benefits at the initial application stage by SSA. The rest are denied, which leaves them facing a multi-step appeals process that will likely stretch many more months, or in some cases, years. Your chances for approval go up if you appeal, however, so don’t quit.

McDonald Law Firm can file your application or appeal a denied claim. We have helped thousands of people obtain Social Security Disability benefits, and we would be glad to assist you, too.

Our goal for each client: Get you approved for Disability benefits as quickly as possible.