As of January 2025, nearly 300,000 Americans are waiting for decisions on their Social Security disability appeals, shedding light on significant delays within the system. With an average wait time of 291 days, or over 9.5 months, those awaiting hearings are facing financial hardship, delayed access to essential benefits, and prolonged uncertainty in their lives.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) had made some progress in reducing the backlog of disability appeals, with pending hearings dropping to a 30-year low of 261,574 in September 2024. However, by January 2025, that number had climbed to 270,949, an increase of almost 10,000 cases in just four months. This resurgence in the backlog raises concerns about whether the improvements made in 2023 and early 2024 are sustainable.
Many applicants, especially those who are unable to work due to serious medical conditions, rely heavily on Social Security disability benefits. For many, these benefits are their primary or sole source of income, making the prolonged waiting period a source of significant stress. The financial strain of waiting for benefits can exacerbate health issues and increase the risk of poverty for vulnerable individuals.
The SSA’s disability benefits programs, which include Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), provide crucial financial assistance for individuals who are unable to work due to medical conditions. When applicants are denied benefits at the initial or reconsideration stages, they have the right to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). This hearing is vital for claimants to present new evidence and clarify details of their disability claims.
Despite reductions in the backlog in previous years, the SSA continues to face difficulties in addressing delays. Data from the SSA shows that the average wait time for Social Security disability hearings is currently 291 days, an improvement from the previous peak of 595 days in 2018. While this improvement is noteworthy, the current delays still present significant challenges for individuals in urgent need of assistance.
The SSA has taken steps to address the backlog by hiring additional ALJs and decision writers in the past, leading to some reductions in the pending hearing cases. Between 2016 and 2018, the SSA hired around 600 ALJs and over 500 decision writers, which led to a reduction in pending hearings to below 1 million for the first time since 2014. However, the rise in the backlog in recent months suggests that challenges still remain.
Mary Ellen O’Connor, a lawyer who works extensively with Social Security Disability clients, described the system’s delays as leaving over 250,000 Americans in limbo, often for years, without income or certainty about their future. The application process itself can take months. The initial application for benefits takes, on average, seven months, and if the applicant is denied, a reconsideration adds another seven months. Denied applicants who proceed to the hearing stage typically face an additional year-long wait. Once the hearing is completed and benefits are approved, applicants often face another five-month wait before they begin receiving benefits.
This extended waiting period can have severe consequences for individuals. Many applicants find themselves losing their homes, cars, and health insurance due to the inability to earn an income. Some are forced to rely on family members for support or return to work, even though their medical conditions may make working detrimental to their health. The inability to access benefits in a timely manner exacerbates the already challenging circumstances for many disabled individuals.
O’Connor also pointed to systemic issues within the Social Security disability appeals process, such as a massive backlog, inconsistent rulings by judges, and technological challenges with virtual hearings. Additionally, a shortage of attorneys who are willing to take these complex and lengthy cases compounds the problem. Many attorneys are deterred by low compensation, which caps at 25 percent of the applicant’s back pay, with a maximum fee of $9,200. This low cap, despite a recent increase from $7,200 to $9,200 in November 2024, is still insufficient considering the long wait for payment and the complexity of these cases. As a result, many applicants are left without legal representation, which significantly lowers their chances of approval.
The situation is not just about waiting—O’Connor stressed that the real burden is the uncertainty that applicants face as they remain without income, medical care, or hope for relief. This uncertainty creates additional stress for individuals who are already coping with serious health issues, and the failure to resolve their claims in a timely manner exacerbates their financial and emotional hardships.
Former SSA Commissioner Martin O’Malley acknowledged the issue, stating in a September 2024 blog post that while the SSA strives to provide high-quality service, delays in the decision-making process are still too common. He highlighted that many applicants still experience long waiting periods for initial decisions and hearings.
The SSA’s recent decision to close some offices further complicates the situation. According to SSA officials, they are not renewing leases for smaller, remote hearing sites, as most hearings are now being held virtually. These closures could lead to additional delays in processing disability appeals, making the wait times even longer for some applicants.
Despite these challenges, the SSA remains committed to addressing the backlog and reducing delays. However, for many applicants, the wait continues, and the strain on their finances and health remains a significant concern.
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