Why Does It Take So Long To Get Disability

How Can I Maximize Retroactive Benefits

File your VA disability claim as soon as you determine you might have one. Do not rely on the VA to notify you that you may have a potential disability claim. Because the effective date of an award is usually no earlier than the date of the written claim, delay in filing a claim is usually just leaving monetary benefits, to which you as a veteran are entitled, on the table.

How Long Does It Take To Receive Disability Benefits Back Pay From The Veterans Administration

However, the good news is, once your claim has approved you will be entitled to back payment of VA benefits from the effective date of your disability the date you filed for benefits, or were diagnosed with your disabling condition to the date your claim was approved.

If your disability is determined to be related to your military service and you file your claim within one year of separation from active service, then the effective date will be the date you received your injury or were diagnosed with your illness.

So, what can you expect from the VA disability back pay timeline?

S In The Va Disability Claim Process

• STEP #1: Claim Received: Normally takes between 7 and 14 days
• STEP #2: Under Review: This step typically takes 7 to 21 days
• STEP #3: Gathering of Evidence: This step is the longest phase in the VA claim process and usually takes 30-60 days
• STEP #4: Review of Evidence: Takes 7 to 14 days on average
• STEP #5: Preparation for Decision: This step typically takes 7-14 days to complete
• STEP #6: Pending Decision Approval: 7 to 14 days
• STEP #7: Preparation for Notification: 7 to 14 days
• STEP #8: Decision Notification Sent: The final step in the VA claim process takes 7-10 days

If you submit a Fully Developed Claim , which we highly recommend at VA Claims Insider, youll likely get a VA rating decision in around 90-120 days from start to finish.

And the best news?

The VA is getting fastera lot faster.

Fully Developed Claim versus Standard Claim Timeline

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Wait Times For Disability Hearings

Many of our Social Security Disability clients face a long and difficult road to receiving the benefits they have paid for and are entitled to because they have to have their cases decided by an Administrative Law Judge if their applications are initially denied. Wait times for ALJ hearings average around 8 months and that is after the 4-6 months it typically takes for a case to be reviewed but denied at the first two levels within the system.

Why Does It Take So Long To Get Disability Insurance Benefits Look Out For Bad Faith

It can seem like disability insurance claims drag on forever. Sometimes delays are justified and inevitableit can take time to collect and evaluate all of your medical records and other evidence. However, not all delays are so innocent. Occasionally, insurance companies hold off on approving undeniably valid claims for disability insurance benefits, hoping that youll give up, make a mistake, or accept an unreasonably low settlement.

When this happens, you have legal options. In Illinois, as in most other jurisdictions, disabled policyholders can sue their insurance company when it delays decisions about coverage, eligibility for benefits, or other issues in bad faith. In this article, well help you identify possible insurance company bad faith.

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Prevent Delays In Receiving Your Disability Benefits

How long does it take to get disability back pay? The answer for most applicants waiting for social security benefits is too long. The Social Security Disability Benefits attorneys at Marc Whitehead & Associates want you to receive your disability benefits with as little delays as possible.

While we cant speed up the SSAs deliberation process, we can help you avoid the kinds of mistakes that could add months or even years onto the time it takes to get your claim approved. We can also ensure you receive the total back payment of benefits you are entitled to. Dont risk any unnecessary delays in getting the benefits you deserve. Contact the law offices of Marc Whitehead & Associates to schedule a free consultation with an experienced disability benefits lawyer to discuss the best way to proceed with your Social Security disability claim. Call us today at

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What Happens During A Disability Insurance Claim Investigation

Once you submit a disability insurance claim, the company will assign your case to an insurance adjuster. This individual is responsible for evaluating your case and issuing a decision to either approve or deny your benefits. This investigation can take time, since the adjuster will likely:

• Review your application and other forms that you complete
• Request medical records and statements from your doctors and medical providers
• Ask to meet with you and perform a field interview
• Assess your work experience and ability to work
• Consult with experts, including vocational specialists and physicians

If you have an employer-sponsored disability plan, this process typically cannot take more than 150 days. However, if you have a self-funded disability insurance policy, the insurance company doesnt have a specific deadline. Instead, it cannot wait an unreasonable amount of time before it makes a decision.

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The Help Of A Professional

Bringing in a qualified VA disability lawyer at any point in the process is never a bad idea. A competent attorney knows all of the ins and out of the system. They can help to make sure that you get both the maximum amount in benefits to which you are entitled and that you get them as quickly as possible.

Your disability doesnt wait until you get your payment to affect your life the quicker you can get the money to which you are entitled, the better.

Many People Are Applying For Social Security Disability Benefits

There are many people applying for disability benefits. You are one of thousands of people that fill out their initial applications either online or in person at their local Social Security Administration field office every year. Because there are so many applications that are filed each year, it takes time for the SSA to process and review each one. This review time can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months on average.

Most people have their initial application denied. It doesnt mean that your case is over and that you should give up. Social Security claimants can go through an appeal process to try and get disability benefits. Its important that you file your appeal within 60 days of being denied or else you will need to start your claim over.

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Can My Disability Rating Increase

If you receive a disability rating from the VA, it is not set in stone, and certain factors can cause your rating to go up or down. The VA may decrease your rating by default if they assume that your condition has improved over time.

To prevent the VA from reducing your rating, stick with your treatment plan, take any prescribed medication, and go to routine checkups with your doctor. The VA will want to see that you are still receiving treatment in order to maintain your rating. If you stop going to your appointments, the VA has reason to believe you no longer need them.

You can also take steps to increase your disability rating by filing an appeal or by requesting a reevaluation from the VA. The VA may increase your disability rating if you suffer from a condition with symptoms that tend to worsen over time. Degenerative diseases like Parkinsons disease and certain types of cancer often progress as time passes, meaning that you may be receiving fewer benefits than you deserve as your symptoms worsen. If you have had the same disability rating for years, but your condition has gotten worse, seek a reevaluation from the VA.

It’s Time To Get The Benefits You Deserve

Suze Orman shares how to get disability benefits in less timewith no out-of-pocket costs

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What Else Might Make A Decision Take Longer

A very important factor in how long your decision will take depends on your status with the agency. If you have already been separated from federal service for more than 30 days when you submit your application, your application is processed quicker.

This is because your application goes straight to OPM in Boyers, PA, where it gets processed and issued a civil service annuity number. After getting a civil service annuity number, the application goes to OPM headquarters in Washington D.C., where a decision is made.

Contrast this with the process that an application from someone who is still on agency roles as an employee, or within 30 days of separation. In such instances, an application will need to go through several offices before arriving at a decision.

First, your application goes to the specific agency you work for to process. Then, many agencies will send your application to their centralized HR facility for further processing. After this point, your application will be sent to Boyers, PA for a CSA number.

How Long Disability Approvals Take On Applications And Appeals

Heres what happens on most claims:

1. The application decision will be made in 3-4 months, with most decisions made in under 90 days. This is what Social Security usually quotes. 70 percent of cases will be a denial, and 30 percent will be an approval.

2. In most states, the next appeal is a request for reconsideration. This decision is usually faster because the medical records will already have been gathered for the application. On average, you should get the decision in 1-2 months, and sometime in under four weeks.

How many cases get approved on a reconsideration?

The denial rate is higher on a reconsiderationmainly because the process is identical to the application. Depending on your state, the rate of denial will be about 80 percent, but it can go as high as 90 percent.

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Will I Receive A Notice From The Social Security Administration Explaining My Benefits

Yes. That notice is usually called a Notice of Award. This notice will show the date of entitlement and the amounts of benefits for all months of back benefits. It will show the total amount of benefits to be paid to you. It will show the amount of benefits withheld for direct payment of attorneys fees. It may also give you information about your Medicare eligibility and monthly Medicare premium. It may also give you some information about when to expect a continuing disability review.

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A Deferred Claim Can Lengthen The Vas Decision

If your claim cannot be either approved or denied by the VA, it means your application to receive benefits has been deferred.

A deferred claim typically means that the VA needs more information in order to make an informed decision regarding your disability status. If the VA is missing evidence or documentation that may influence how they rate your disability status, they may defer your claim and put the decision-making process on hold. The VA will notify you if your claim has been deferred make sure to check the status of your claim while waiting for a decision to see if the VA needs you to take any actions before they can move forward.

If your claim gets deferred, you will have to wait longer before you receive your disability rating. The VA may need you to submit military medical records, personnel records, information from your personal doctor, or other documentation before your claim can move out of deferral status. If your claim is currently on hold, the VA will let you know what you need to do to get the decision-making process back on track.

Before a Veteran can receive a disability rating, they first need to undergo the VAs Compensation & Pension exam. The C& P exam allows the VA to assess a Veterans condition, and the results of the examination can help the VA determine whether a Veteran can qualify for disability benefits. If you have not undergone a C& P exam, your claim may end up deferred until you do.

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Many People Get Their Approval At A Hearing

The disability hearing is where you should have a disability lawyer, or a disability representative, to handle your case. A lawyer will try to get your case approved by meeting a disability listing, or proving you qualify through a medical vocational allowance. This is an approval that happens when your medical condition is severe enough that you cant do your past work, and cant do do some type of other work.

Help Your Doctor Help You

Your doctors support is the most important evidence in your long-term disability claim.

Insurance companies often request that doctors fill out an attending physician statement as part of the claim analysis. Any delay in these APS forms can impact how long it takes to get your initial decision.

You can help your doctor to submit a timely response by making sure you are keeping up with your treatment plan. Stay in communication with your doctor so they know your current medical condition when filling out the APS form.

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When Does My Va Rating Become Total

Veterans disabilities are rated based on VAs Schedule of Rating Disabilities. The ratings levels for each type of disability are based on the severity of your symptomatology and the level of social and occupation impairment that you experience as a result. A 100% rating indicates that your disability is completely, or totally, disabling. 100% total ratings may be reduced if the VA can show that your condition has shown material improvement. Material improvement means that there has been a significant change in the veterans ability to function in daily life.

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How Long Does It Take To Get An Ssdi Award Letter

The Social Security Administration states on its website that applicants may have to wait between three and five months to get a letter confirming your benefits after approval of your application. The application itself could take between one and three months to reach a decision. In all, you may have a total wait time of up to eight months from the time you apply, though most applicants see their first benefit checks come through about four months after first filing their applications.

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Being Awarded Disability Benefits

Although the Social Security Disability claim process can take years to complete, if you are awarded benefits at your appeal you do not have to worry about foregoing the benefits you were entitled to while appealing the SSA’s decision to deny your benefits at the initial stage of the application process.

The Social Security Administration will pay you back payments of the benefits you should have been receiving while you were going through your appeal.

For example, if you are awarded $1,000 per month and the Administrative Law Judge determines that you were eligible for disability 18 months ago, you would receive a back-payment of $18,000.

Your Social Security attorney will receive 25-percent of this back-payment amount in return for representing you during your disability case. This prevents you from having to pay for your lawyer out of your own pocket and makes legal representation affordable to all Social Security Disability applicants.

Vice President Business Relationship Manager

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