Retirement Social Security

Social Security’s Disability Backlog Could Delay Your Retirement or Force You Into a Smaller Benefit

A growing hearing backlog might mean financial strain for SSDI applicants.

By Paige Cerulli , Edited by Laura Hohenstein

Updated Sept. 25, 2026

Add Us On Google

A growing Social Security disability hearing backlog may have implications for individuals relying on those benefits before they're able to collect Social Security senior benefits in retirement. As the backlog increases, wait times may also stretch out, leaving applicants in a tough financial spot and facing difficult choices.

Here's what to know about the disability hearing backlog, what it might mean for your application, and what you should know about navigating the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) application process.

Now Available: The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income

Many successful investors eventually reach the same moment. The saving is done, the portfolio is built, and the question quietly changes from how much can I grow this to how much can I take out? Get that second question wrong and decades of good investing can come apart in a handful of years.

That is exactly what The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income helps answer.¹ <p class="">Investing in securities involves a risk of loss. Past performance is never a guarantee of future returns. Investing in foreign stock markets involves additional risks, such as the risk of currency fluctuations. Guides are provided by Fisher Investments. The publisher may be compensated when readers request a guide.</p> It covers what your retirement could actually cost, which income sources are worth using, and the withdrawal math that decides whether the money lasts. It is free today from Fisher Investments. Read More Here ›

The growing SSDI backlog

The Social Security Administration's new projections indicate that the backlog of SSDI hearings may increase by the end of the current fiscal year. According to SSA data, pending hearings may rise from approximately 281,000 to 349,000 by the end of fiscal year 2026. The SSA projects that hearings may decline to 323,000 in fiscal year 2027.

Shopping for cheaper auto insurance? Enter your zip code here to get started.

The SSDI hearing process

The SSDI hearing process is part of the appeals process. If an applicant's initial application is denied, they have 60 days to file a request for reconsideration, during which time a different examiner and medical consultant review the application. The applicant may also provide additional information to be reviewed.

If the application is denied during the reconsideration process, the applicant has 60 days to request a hearing with an administrative law judge. During the hearing, the application is reviewed again, and the judge makes a decision to approve or deny the application.

How a hearing backlog affects near-retirees

The backlog of SSDI hearings may have a particularly significant impact on near-retirees. A stalled disability claim might force a near-retiree to try to keep working past the point their health allows for it out of financial necessity. Doing so might make some health conditions worse, taking a toll on an individual's physical and emotional health.

Alternatively, some applicants who are near retirement age might choose to claim Social Security benefits early. Individuals may claim Social Security benefits beginning at age 62, but if they claim before they reach full retirement age, their benefits are reduced by a small percentage. Those applicants may find their budgets are stretched thin because of the reduced benefits while their disability appeal drags on.

Released: The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income (Sponsor)

Most people spend their entire working lives focusing on one thing: growing a pile of money. Then they retire and discover the skill they actually need is close to the opposite. Turning that pile into steady income, year after year, through good markets and bad, without ever running out. It may be the least discussed and most consequential transition in personal finance, and plenty of otherwise careful investors walk into it with no real plan.

That is exactly what The Definitive Guide to Retirement Income helps answer.¹ <p class="">Investing in securities involves a risk of loss. Past performance is never a guarantee of future returns. Investing in foreign stock markets involves additional risks, such as the risk of currency fluctuations. Guides are provided by Fisher Investments. The publisher may be compensated when readers request a guide.</p> It is a free guide from Fisher Investments covering what your retirement will really cost, where the cash flow should come from, and how much you can safely withdraw each year. Learn More Here ›

Factors that improve your odds in an SSDI hearing

To maximize your chances of being approved during an SSDI hearing, submit your medical records on time, and try to provide any new medical evidence that might strengthen your case. Be sure to read your denial letter to understand just why you were denied, and look for ways to address that issue.

Provide plenty of detail on your function report, since your limitations help the SSA determine whether you're able to perform any work, and always make sure to promptly respond to any SSA communication. If the SSA requests more information or asks you to attend a consultative exam and you don't respond, the SSA might deny your claim because of lack of contact or cooperation.

You may also consider professional representation for your hearing. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, individuals represented by an attorney during the hearing were approved at rates nearly three times higher than individuals who did not have legal representation.

How long it takes to get approved for SSDI

Getting approved for SSDI may be a lengthy process. The SSA indicates that the initial decision may take six to eight months, though appeals may extend that process. July 2026 data indicates that the average SSDI hearing takes about 275 days, or roughly nine months.

The data on denial rates for first-time SSDI applicants

Keep in mind that the majority of SSDI applications are initially denied. According to SSA data, approximately 36% of initial SSDI applications are approved during the first review stage. Approval rates average just 15% during the reconsideration phase, but requesting a hearing may significantly improve your odds, as national approval rates average about 50% during the hearing stage.

This data means that most of the people who were ultimately approved for SSDI were denied at least once, and it emphasizes the importance of fully understanding and following the appeal requirements.

Retirement News: Almost 80% of Americans fear a retirement age increase — here’s the real reason why

Bottom line

If your initial SSDI application is denied, don't panic. Instead, remember that you have 60 days to appeal the denial and spend some time gathering any additional information that might help strengthen your case, including new medical information. Double- and triple-check your application and supporting documentation for accuracy, and pay close attention to any deadlines that you need to meet to keep your case on track.

Waiting on an SSDI approval may be emotionally and financially stressful, and given the potentially long timeline for a review, it may be a good idea to find additional income sources if possible. If you're near retirement age and considering claiming Social Security early, do some calculations to see how much you might lose in benefits and whether it makes sense to claim early, or if there are other ways you may stay on track for retirement.

More from FinanceBuzz: