Applying for Social Security Disability benefits can be a lengthy process. Disability claims are taken by your local Social Security office and then transferred to a State disability agency for evaluation. Here is all you need to know about the timeframes when applying for disability benefits.

The first step to apply for disability benefits is to schedule an appointment with your local Social Security office or submit your application online. It can take as long as two weeks to get an appointment date depending on how busy the Social Security office is in your area. You can apply online at Social Securitys website; regardless of the method of your application you will need to provide proof of citizenship or legal residence for your claim. You will also need to provide the names and address of any doctors, hospitals, or clinics you have been seen at so Social Security can request records to support your claim.

Once you have submitted your application the local Social Security office will take about thirty days preparing it for transfer to your States disability agency. Your disability is evaluated by an agency of your States government called Disability Determination Services; this agency takes an average of 120 days to evaluate your medical evidence and make a determination.

If you receive a favorable decision on your disability claim from the State, your claim will be transferred back to Social Security and sent to a regional payment center to be processed for payments. Social Security payment centers do not take telephone calls from the public; they simply process payments, so you will not be able to contact the payment center for status updates. This payment center will typically take 60 days to finalize processing of your disability claim before you will receive an award letter and your first check.

As you can see, applying for disability benefits can be a lengthy process. Social Security can take as long as seven months to get you a check. If you have a medical condition that is expected to result in your death you can speed up the process by identifying yourself as a terminal patient when you schedule your application appointment. To learn more about applying for disability benefits visit the website Social Security Laid Bare using the links below.