What to Expect in Your First Year Applying for SSDI
The Social Security Administration denies about 65% of initial SSDI applications. That is not a bug — it is how the process is built. Most people who ultimately receive SSDI benefits get them after an appeal, not after the first application. The process takes an average of two years from application to first payment. Knowing this going in changes how you approach it.
Before you apply: the work history requirement
SSDI requires both a medical condition that prevents substantial gainful employment AND a sufficient work history. In 2024, you generally need 40 work credits (about 10 years of covered employment) with 20 earned in the last 10 years, though younger workers need fewer credits.
If you do not have enough work credits, you may still qualify for SSI (Supplemental Security Income), which has no work history requirement but is need-based. Many disabled individuals apply for both simultaneously.
The initial application (0–6 months)
Submit your application online at ssa.gov/disability, by phone, or in person at an SSA office. The application asks for detailed work history, medical providers, diagnoses, medications, and how your condition affects your ability to work.
After submission, your case goes to your state's Disability Determination Services (DDS) — a state agency that conducts medical reviews on behalf of SSA. DDS will request records from your doctors and may schedule a consultative exam (CE) with a doctor of their choosing. The initial decision typically takes 3–6 months. Roughly 35% of initial applications are approved.
If you are denied: reconsideration (months 6–12)
If denied, you have 60 days to request reconsideration. Do not skip this step — you must exhaust administrative remedies before requesting a hearing. Reconsideration is reviewed by a different DDS examiner who looks at the same evidence plus anything new you submit.
Approval at reconsideration is rare — roughly 13% of cases are approved at this stage. However, skipping reconsideration means you cannot move to an ALJ hearing, and you lose the right to appeal.
ALJ hearing (months 12–24+)
If denied at reconsideration, you can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). This is where most successful SSDI cases are won — roughly 45–55% of ALJ hearings result in approval. The process from requesting a hearing to getting one typically takes 12–24 months.
At an ALJ hearing, you or your representative presents your case, a vocational expert testifies about your ability to work, and the judge asks questions. Having legal representation at an ALJ hearing significantly increases your chances of approval — most SSDI attorneys work on contingency and are paid a portion of your back-pay only if you win.
Retroactive and back pay
SSDI benefits start 5 months after the onset of your disability. If you are approved more than 5 months after your disability started, you may receive back pay going back to your onset date (minus the 5-month waiting period), up to 12 months before your application date.
The amount of back pay depends on how long your case took and when you last worked. If your case is won at an ALJ hearing after 18 months of waiting, back pay can amount to a substantial lump sum.
While you wait: other resources
SSDI cases frequently take 2+ years to resolve. During this time, check your eligibility for SNAP, Medicaid (if in an expansion state), and SSI (if your assets and income are low enough). Some states also have general assistance programs for adults with disabilities who are waiting on an SSDI decision.
You may also qualify for a presumptive disability payment from SSI if your condition is one of several specifically listed conditions that SSA presumes qualify — this can provide income while your full case is processed.