SSD applications are taken at all local Social Security district offices. They may also be filed by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or they may be filed online by going to www.ssa.gov/disability/ and following the links to the application page.

Our office recommends that disabled individuals discuss their situation with a knowledgeable lawyer before filing an application.  The importance of obtaining sound legal advice early on is underscored by the long delays faced by applicants whose claims are denied and who wish to appeal those determinations (see below).  A lawyer can provide valuable information about the claims process; answer specific questions; identify potential problems that are likely to be encountered on the application; and address them ahead of time to enhance the prospects of success and avoid the need for an appeal. 

It generally takes Social Security several months to make an initial determination on new claims. Much of that time is spent collecting and analyzing the applicant's own medical records. It is not uncommon for Social Security to also require an applicant to undergo an examination by one or more of its own doctors, who will provide a separate evaluation of the applicant's medical condition. 

After evaluating all of these reports, Social Security sends a written notice to the applicant stating whether the claim is approved or denied.

Applicants whose claims are denied have a right to a hearing; however, they must file a hearing request within 60 days of the date they receive a denial notice. Hearing requests may be filed in person, by phone, or online using the link provided above.

Applicants whose disability claims are denied and who request a hearing are in for a long wait.  There is a nationwide backlog of hearing requests, and this has resulted in extraordinary delays in processing times that have persisted despite SSA's efforts to address the problem nationally and locally.  Average processing times at the Syracuse Office of Disability Adjudication & Review are among the longest in the nation--more than 550 days.