File Early
Submit your file as soon as possible. In recent years, the average wait time for a decision on an initial application for disability benefits has increased significantly. In February 2024, it reached 233 days, more than 7½ months, due to a staffing shortage at the Social Security Administration (SSA) caused by years of chronic underfunding compounded by the pandemic. If your initial claim is denied, as most are, an appeal can take many more months.
It can take many months for a new case to be assigned to a disability examiner, during which applicants can compile medical reports for later submission.