How Long Does a Disability Appeal Take with a Lawyer in Ohio?

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At the End of a Long Road, You Could Find Financial Relief

When you’ve been denied Social Security Disability benefits, it feels like a loss. Your days are consumed with concerns about your health. Now the financial help you were counting on isn’t coming, and you’re stuck waiting again.

At Horenstein, Nicholson & Blumenthal (HNB), we understand this frustration. Our Ohio disability attorneys are here to help you appeal your disability denial and keep hope alive for economic relief and a measure of peace.

It’s unfortunately not a fast process. Depending on how many rounds of appeal you need to make, it could take months or over a year to finally complete your case.

No lawyer can control how fast Social Security moves, but HNB can stand by your side through the entire process, helping you stay organized, informed, and confident that you’re doing everything possible to move your case forward.

You face a difficult wait, but you don’t have to wait in the dark.

And according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, you’re nearly three times more likely to win benefits after a disability appeal hearing when you have a representative by your side.

We’ve been helping everyday Ohioans navigate life’s hardest challenges for over 40 years, serving people across Cincinnati, Cleveland Columbus, Dayton and all over the state—people just like you.

“Helping me, that’s HNB!”

Discuss Your Case

    How Long Does a Disability Appeal Take at the First Level: Reconsideration?

    If your initial application was denied, your first appeal is called a “Request for Reconsideration.”

    This is when someone new at the Social Security Administration (SSA) reviews your case and any new medical evidence.

    • Average wait time nationally for a reconsideration: 7.1 months (213 days according to an SSA estimate in June 2024)

     

    • Average wait time in Ohio: Around 3-5 months, but this can vary widely based on the SSA’s backlog, your location, and the complexity of your case.

    Reconsideration can sometimes move faster. It’s an internal SSA process that involves reviewing some of the same information as your first application, with possible supplemental documents. Some reconsideration decisions only take a month.

    During this stage, the SSA may send you to a consultative medical exam or request additional documentation.

    It’s important to know that approval on reconsideration is rare.

    Most people still get denied and need to move on to the next level—testifying for a disability judge.

    But don’t panic. You’re not alone, and many people don’t win until they reach a hearing.

    Get My Free Case Review 

    READ TRANSCRIPT 

    TRANSCRIPT

    Rob: Social Security turns down too many people who can’t work. Having a lawyer helps. But not just any lawyer.

    Stephanie: You want a lawyer who meets you before the day of your hearing. A lawyer who listens…who treats you and your family with respect.

    Mike: And a lawyer who does whatever it takes to try to get you benefits.

    Fred: If you can’t work, let HNB help you.

    Announcer: Helping me, that’s HNB. Call 888-66-GET HNB. Horenstein Nicholson and Blumenthal

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    How Long Does It Take to Get a Social Security Disability Hearing?

    If reconsideration doesn’t go your way, your next step is to request a hearing in front of an administrative law judge (ALJ).

    • Average wait time to reach a disability hearing in Ohio: around 8 months as of May 2025.

    This depends on how busy your local hearing office is. (In May 2025, the Toledo office was averaging six months to get to a hearing, but the Dayton office was taking 10.)

    The national average for hearings is often over 12 months.

    The good news: this is where many people finally win their benefits. Percentages of approvals are much higher at the hearing level than on reconsideration.

    At HNB, our Social Security Disability lawyers help you prepare a strong case for your hearing, gathering medical evidence, writing legal arguments, and making sure your story comes across strong and clear.

    What If You Still Get Denied at Your Disability Hearing? How Long Does the Next Step Take?

    If the administrative law judge (ALJ) denies your disability claim after your hearing, you still have options. The next step is to request a review from the Social Security Appeals Council.

    • Average wait time for Appeals Council review: 12 to 18 months or more

    The Appeals Council doesn’t re-try your case. Instead, it looks for legal or procedural errors the judge may have made during your hearing. Your disability attorney can identify points to raise. If the Council finds an error, it may send your case back for another hearing or issue a new decision.

    If you still face a disability benefits denial after running your claim through the Appeals Council, you have one more step: suing Social Security in federal court.

    A federal lawsuit takes time. Now you’re facing months or a year or more to get a decision from a federal judge.

    Work with an experienced disability lawyer, someone who’s been through this process many times, to decide your next move.

    No matter how long it takes, you’re not alone when you have a disability attorney from HNB.

    HNB has supported thousands of Ohioans through every stage of disability appeals, and we’re here to help you keep moving forward—even when things get tough.

    Contact an Ohio disability lawyer now.

     

    How HNB Helps Me: More about Social Security Disability

    The Social Security Disability system can be so complicated and confusing that part of your lawyer’s job is helping you understand what’s going on. At HNB, we want to be a resource for you.

    Here, you can dig deeper on these topics:

    Applying 
    Appealing
    a Denial 
    Qualifying 
    Impairments 
    Getting SSI 
    Disability
    FAQs 
    About HNB 
    Talk to a Lawyer! 

    Hear From HNB Clients:

    Client testimonial for Laurie Ruscillo
    Laurie Ruscillo
    in Google Reviews

    “During a very difficult time, there was compassion and a truly dedicated effort from the staff for a favorable outcome with a disability claim from the Social Security Administration.”

    Client testimonial for Dean Williams
    Dean Williams
    in Google Reviews

    “They met all of my needs, suggested avenues of approach in my case that I hadn’t thought of. The lawyers that handled my case at different levels were fully knowledgeable of all aspects of my case. Highly recommend this firm for your legal needs.