How Do I Check the Status on a Disability Claim or Case?

On This Page

1. How do I Check the Status of My Claim to Make Sure it Stays on Track?
2. Missing Documentation Could Stall Your Claim
3. What Information Will be Available When I Check My Claim Status?
4. How Can I Get Help Understanding the Status of My Appeal?
5. Steps of Appealing a Disability Claim
6. What If I Need to Update My Social Security Disability Application?

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

September 09, 2024

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

You can check the status of a disability claim or case in several ways, including online, over the phone, or at your local field office. Most people want to check the status of their case because of how long it takes to get a decision on a claim for disability benefits. In general, it can take months to find out if the Social Security Administration (SSA) approved or denied your initial application for benefits.

If you received a rejection and needed to appeal your denial, you could be waiting for well over a year before you know the outcome of your case. A Pittsburgh Social Security Disability lawyer can also help you understand the status of your appeal if we are handling your case.

How do I Check the Status of My Claim to Make Sure it Stays on Track?

You have several ways to check the status of your application with the SSA. If you need assistance, our attorneys can help you find out where your application is in the process. We can also offer any general tips for SSD applications and processing.

Go Online to Check the Status of Your Disability Case or Claim

The SSA’s website allows you to log in and check the status of your claim and learn other information about your application or appeal. If you do not have an account, the website explains the steps of the setup process.

Get Information About Your SSD Claim or Case Over the Phone

If you do not have or do not want an online account to check the status of your application, you can contact the SSA via an automated system that will allow you to log in using your confirmation number to check your status and get other information about your claim.

Then, say “application status” when the automated voice asks how it can help you.

These lines are available in English and Spanish. You can call all days of the week and at any time.

Check Your Disability Claim Status at Your Local Field Office

You can also learn the status of your claim by reaching out to the staff of your local Social Security field office. If you did not visit the local field office when you applied for disability, you can get the office contact information by using the Social Security Office Locator online.

How Often do I Need to Check the Status of My Claim?

When you are waiting for the SSA to decide on your initial claim, we recommend checking the status of your case regularly. While the SSA should notify you if it needs any extra information or additional medical evidence to process your claim, you can usually learn about it faster by checking your status.

Missing Documentation Could Stall Your Claim

Not having all the proper documentation can stall your application at any point in the process. If you are missing information or medical evidence, your claim could be stuck:

• At the local Social Security field office, where examiners look at your technical qualifications; or
• At the Office of Disability Determination Services, where SSA employees order and evaluate your medical evidence to determine if you suffer a disabling impairment.

If the SSA does need information from your doctor, additional evidence, or other documentation, you can get it to the organization faster than if you wait for the mailed notification to reach you. The quicker the SSA gets the information it needs, the faster it can make a determination about your disability.

What Information Will be Available When I Check My Claim Status?

No matter how you check the status of your claim, you can view the same information about your application or appeal. This information includes your filing date and:

• Your current status; and
• Information about how to complete your application; and
• The location of the claim, such as the address of the local field office

Information Available When You Check Your Appeal Status

You can also check the status of your SSD appeal. Depending on where you are in the application or appeals process, this information could include:

• The time and date of your appeals hearing; and
• The SSA’s decision on your claim; and
• Your appeal outcome.

How Can I Get Help Understanding the Status of My Appeal?

If we are handling your appeal, we can update you on the status of your case at any time. We will keep track of where your case is in the process and walk through each step with you. If you received a denial and you need to appeal, we can explain what you can expect in the appeals process while we build a solid case on your behalf.

We will fight for the benefits you need and deserve based on your medical evidence. At the same time, we can guide you through the claims process and stand by you through your appeal.

Steps of Appealing a Disability Claim

These are the steps of the SSD appeals process, according to the SSA. We can help you through each:

• Reconsideration: Once we file your appeal, a new person will look at your case to tell you whether you qualify for benefits.
• Hearing: If you are denied upon reconsideration, we will schedule your appeals hearing with the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) and represent you at the hearing.
• Appeals Council: If we do not agree with the hearing’s outcome, we can file your appeal for review with the SSA’s appeals council.
• Court: The last step in the appeal process would be to take your case to federal court.

Our Social Security Disability lawyers can see your claim through every step of the appeals process. We can review your initial application and tell you how to improve. We can ensure the SSA has the appropriate information about all of your medical providers.

What If I Need to Update My Social Security Disability Application?

If you need to make a change to your disability application or documents, it’s crucial to act promptly to avoid delays in processing your claim. Depending on the type of change, there are specific steps you should follow:

• Corrections: If you discover an error on your application, you can submit a corrected document directly to the Social Security Administration (SSA) or your state disability agency. Be sure to highlight the changes.
• Additional Information: If you have new medical evidence or need to update your personal information (e.g., address, phone number), submit this as soon as possible. Include your Social Security number and claim number on all documents to ensure they are properly attached to your file.
• Withdrawal: If you need to withdraw your application or amend it significantly, notify the SSA in writing.

Our disability benefits attorney can handle every stage of the application and appeals process and keep the Social Security Administration updated.

Call for a Free Consultation About Your Claim Status

If the SSA denied your initial disability claim, our disability attorneys can review your case for free to see if we can help you with an appeal. Berger and Green has 40 years of experience handling complex cases, and we want to put our experience to work for you.

Call us today for a free case evaluation with a team member to see how a disability lawyer from our firm can help you.