How long does it take to get a decision after I apply for disability benefits?

 · En español

The time it takes to get a decision on your disability application can vary depending on:

  • The nature of your disability.
  • How quickly we can get your medical evidence from your doctor or other medical source.
  • Whether it is necessary to send you for a medical examination.
  • Whether we review your application for quality purposes.

Once you have submitted your application for disability benefits, it generally takes 6 to 8 months for an initial decision.

You can log in or create a personal my Social Security account to check the status of your pending application.