Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) – Average Processing Times and Approval Rates at Hearings

One of the toughest things I have to do when explaining to people who are applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or whose application has been denied is the length of the process. I try to regularly provide an update on processing times and approval rates for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims at some hearing offices (ODAR), but it has been since January of 2017. Please remember that these statistics are only for claims pending at the hearing level or Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. The claims at a hearing office have already been through the Application and Reconsideration steps (typically 6-12 months of waiting already).

Nationally:

• Average processing time: 582 days (up from 573 in July of 2017, 525 days in January of 2017 and up from 444 in May of 2015)
• 45% of cases approved

Chattanooga, Tennessee:

• Average processing time: 556 days (up from 553 in July of 2017 and 535 days in January of 2017)
• 50% of cases approved (up slightly from last July, but down from 60% in January of 2017)

Charleston, South Carolina

• Average processing time: 675 days! (up from 656 in July of 2017 and 617 days in January of 2017)
• 39% of cases approved (down from 40% in July of 2017 and 49% in January of 2017)

Columbia, South Carolina

• Average processing time: 655 days (up from 654 days in July of 2017 and down from 664 days in January of 2017)
• 49% of cases approved (down from 53% of cases approved in January of 2017)

Franklin, Tennessee

• Average processing time: 567 days (up from 552 days in July of 2017, 521 days in January of 2017 and 475 days in December of 2015)
• 53% of cases approved (down from 55% in July of 2017 and down from 62% of cases approved in January of 2017)

Kingsport, Tennessee:

• Average processing time: 540 days (up from 532 days in July of 2017, 512 days in January of 2017, 454 days in October of 2016 and 339 days in April of 2015)
• 60% of case approved (down from 64% of case approved in January of 2017)

Knoxville, Tennessee:

• Average processing time: 576 days (up from 565 days in July of 2017, 521 days in January of 2017)
• 51% of cases approved

Memphis, Tennessee

• Average processing time: 600 days (up from 591 days in July of 2017, 578 days in January of 2017)
• 45% of cases approved (down from 47% of cases approved in July of 2017 and 52% of cases approved in January of 2017)

Nashville, Tennessee

• Average processing time: 509 days (up from 508 days in July of 2017, 491 days in January of 2017, 484 days in October of 2016 and 465 days in December of 2015)
• 51% of cases approved (up from 49% of cases approved in July of 2017)

Middlesboro, Kentucky

• Average processing time: 458 days (up from 436 days in January of 2017)
• 46% of case approved (up from 45% in July of 2017)

The hearing office staff work hard and understand the frustrations of the claimants and representatives, but they are hamstrung by the workload and budgetary restraints.

If you need more information about a Social Security Disability/SSI, personal injury, EEOICPA, long or short-term disability, Railroad Retirement Board disability, or a workers compensation matter, please contact the Law Offices of Tony Farmer and John Dreiser for a free case evaluation. We can be reached at (865) 584-1211 or (800) 806-4611 or through our website.