How Long Does it Take to Get Disability in Wisconsin?
Mapping the Path to Financial Relief from Social Security Disability
Health problems knock you down. You can’t work. Your income stops. Your finances are in trouble.
It’s an emergency. Social Security Disability benefits, which provide monthly checks, can calm the emergency.
So you ask, “How long does it take to get disability benefits?” Well, Social Security doesn’t treat this with the speed of an emergency:
- Initial decision on your application: 6 to 8 months, on average according to Social Security as of 2024
- Time to reach a hearing with a disability judge if your case was initially denied: 9 to 10 months in Wisconsin in recent years, according to government data
- Time to a decision after a hearing: About another month in Wisconsin.
- Once you’re approved, there’s also a built-in, five-month wait from the time your impairments first qualified to when you receive benefits. But often, you’ve already waited longer, so you’ve already put in the five months.
Don’t lose hope. After all that waiting, you can get a lump sum of back pay to compensate you for the months or longer that you had a qualifying disability but weren’t getting benefits.
Back pay can be a substantial amount, which finally eases your stress.
And for Wisconsin residents, you can have a strong ally to your cause throughout your journey: the Wisconsin Social Security Disability lawyers at Becker Law Office and Hawks Quindel.
We’ve helped thousands of people win disability benefits in Wisconsin.
You don’t have to wait to get our skilled, experienced disability attorneys supporting your case.
How to Avoid a Longer Wait for Social Security Disability Benefits
You can’t control how long Social Security takes to decide your disability claim, but you can make sure you aren’t causing more delays yourself.
These are key steps to staying on top of your Social Security Disability case:
- Fill out all forms completely.
- Give clear, understandable answers.
- Provide correct information.
- If Social Security asks for more information, respond quickly.
- Get medical records and other documents to Social Security as soon as you can.
- If you’re denied benefits, file your appeal before the deadline.
- Work with an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer.
Getting denied prolongs your case more than any other cause.
Having a skilled disability attorney from the start helps you avoid mistakes that lead to denials, get the right information to Social Security, and stay ahead of deadlines.
Even with a strong initial application, though, you could still be denied. Most people are.
An experienced disability lawyer will know what to do. Filing an appeal is more complicated than applying, with more opportunities for your case to go off track. Your lawyer is there to make sure you don’t fall through the cracks.
Your disability lawyer can’t change the fact that this is going to take time, but they can help you keep the process from stretching longer than it has to.
No matter how long it takes to get disability benefits, you never pay your attorney a fee until you win.
It’s best to start your claim as soon as you realize you can’t work because of your health. Start with a free consultation from the Wisconsin disability lawyers at the Becker Law Office and Hawks Quindel.
What to Do While You’re Waiting for Social Security Disability Benefits
Surviving for the next several months while your Social Security Disability case winds through the system is daunting.
This is going to be hard; there’s no sugar-coating it.
Gather any ideas you can to stay afloat in the meantime, such as:
- Limited Work. You can’t work much and still get disability benefits, but you could earn a little bit to buy essentials. Just be careful not exceed income limits for benefits, or you’ll get denied.
- Long-Term Disability Insurance. If you have coverage from a private, long-term disability insurance policy, now is the time to claim those benefits. They could be offset by your Social Security Disability, but they also could kick in faster.
- Spouse’s Income or other Family Support. This may be a time when you need to rely on people close to you to help you get through.
- Other Government Assistance Programs. Look into any support that may be available, including food help from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) program, or even another disability program, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), if you have little savings or other economic resources.
- Other Forms of Aid. Utility companies sometimes ease up on your bills if you have a hardship. Non-profit organizations and churches have programs to help cover necessities.
- Savings. Now is when you may have to lean on your savings. You can dip into retirement savings for emergency reasons if you absolutely have to.
- Loans. Another last resort could be refinancing your home to access cash, or using other kinds of loans or credit cards. See if you can talk to a financial adviser about what makes the most sense for you.
This is likely one of the hardest times you’ve ever had.
At the end of a long road, Social Security Disability benefits help settle down your situation.
You’re facing uncertainty in multiple ways, but one thing you can know is that if you have a disability lawyer from the Becker Law Office and Hawks Quindel, you’ll have someone capable by your side at every step, treating you with dignity and respect in a stressful process.
Don’t give up on your way to greater stability and peace.