You may have tried for months to make your job tolerable when your medical condition started affecting your work. You may have tried pain management, assistive technology or even yoga. Unfortunately, with progressive or permanent medical conditions, staying at work isn’t always an option.
Eventually, you might even need medical support in your own home. Once you can’t work any more, you need some way to support yourself if you still aren’t old enough to qualify for retirement benefits. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits can help you cover your basic living expenses.
Unfortunately, many people face a denial of their first application and then have to wait for a hearing. How long does it take to see a judge over denied SSDI benefits?
Wait times for Houston appeals
Different Social Security Administration (SSA) offices have different average processing times for applications and different hearing wait times based on both the volume of claims they receive and the number of employees they have.
Houston has two SSA offices, each with its own average wait time. If your appeal goes through the Houston North office, you will likely wait seven months for a hearing in front of an administrative law judge. If your case goes through the Houston West office, the average wait time is eight months.
Those months while you’re waiting for your hearing with an administrative law judge can give you time to prepare evidence and get ready to make a convincing case for why you need benefits. An experienced attorney can help you.