THE HIDDEN COSTS OF SSA’S DELAYS
WHAT ARE THE HIDDEN COSTS OF SSA’S DELAYS?
SSA delays can have a number of hidden costs. Most of these delays impact the person who is filing for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. First, it isn’t an easy decision. People often wait too long to file for benefits because they can’t decide what to do. If you haven’t worked for over a year and you still haven’t filed for SSD benefits, then you have waited too long.
You should file for disability benefits as soon as you know you aren’t going to be able to return to work. Many people wait because they believe the SSA will review their medical records and decide they qualify for benefits in a timely manner. Unfortunately, that expectation rarely matches reality.
The truth is that disability cases can take months or even years to resolve. The financial burden of a long wait is well known. However, the emotional burden of waiting receives less attention. For many, the stress of waiting creates or makes worse serious mental health conditions. Anxiety and stress often get worse with each passing month. The hidden cost of delay is real. It affects both the outcome of claims and the health of those who file them.
FILING FOR SSDI & SSI BENEFITS
If you have a severe medical condition that keeps you from working, then there are two benefits for which you can file an application: SSDI and SSI benefits. You can file an application on Social Security’s website. Below is an explanation as to each type of benefit:
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI):
SSDI benefits are for those who can no longer work at any job due to a medical condition. The amount of money you will receive from SSDI benefits is based on your earnings during your work history.
To qualify for SSDI, you must have enough “work credits.” A work credit is an amount of taxable income. You can earn up to 4 work credits per year. The amount of work credits you need will depend on how old you are when you apply. If you haven’t earned enough work credits for your age at the time you apply, then you can only file for Supplemental Security Income benefits. Learn the six myths about SSD benefits that most people believe.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI):
SSI is a needs based benefit. It is for those people with little to no income, such as children and the elderly. Anyone who makes greater than a certain income per month cannot receive SSI benefits. The SSA counts the income of those in your house, not just your income and assets. The same applies if you have significant assets. If you have a boat, a cabin, and a motorcycle, then you don’t qualify for SSI.
If you have a spouse who earns $5000 a month, then that income amount prevents you from getting SSI benefits. You cannot be paid SSI benefits, no matter how severe your medical condition, if you do not meet the income and asset rules for SSI.
HOW LONG DOES THE SSA DELAY BEFORE THEY MAKE A DECISION?
The amount of time it takes to receive a decision from the SSA depends on what stage of the five step appeal process you are dealing with. An initial application may take four to six months before the SSA makes a decision. In most cases, that decision is a denial. The SSA denies up to 90% of claims. If you file an appeal after the initial denial, then you may wait another four to eight months.
The longest SSA delays occur at the hearing stage. It can take a year to get a hearing date. In certain places in the country it can take up to two years to get a hearing before an administrative law judge. This means that many people wait up to two years from the date of their initial application before receiving a final decision.
During that time, bills go unpaid, medical treatment can become inconsistent, and your family lives in uncertainty. These financial pressures are obvious. However, the emotional pressures are just as significant. Every day of waiting carries a mental health impact that the SSA does not officially recognize. But those who are waiting for a decision live with the stress constantly.
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF LONG SSA DELAYS
Waiting for a decision that will determine whether you can pay rent, afford medical care, or keep food on the table creates intense emotional stress. Many people feel as if their lives are “on hold.” They cannot make plans because they do not know whether they will win SSD benefits .
This uncertainty leads to anxiety. Many people worry about losing their homes and not being able to care for their family. They also wonder what will happen if their medical condition gets worse. Anxiety can interfere with sleep, increase physical pain, and make it harder to function on a daily basis.
Depression is also common among those who are stuck in SSA’s backlog. The loss of a career, combined with the stigma of needing government benefits, can erode self-esteem. Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness become more pronounced when there is no clear timeline for resolution. Some claimants describe the waiting period as emotionally harder than their illness itself.
The stress of waiting does not just affect mental health—it also worsens physical health. Prolonged stress has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, immune system suppression, and worsening chronic pain. For individuals who are already struggling with serious illnesses, the emotional burden of waiting often makes their underlying conditions worse.
WHY SSA DOES NOT MEASURE THE COST OF WAITING FOR THE APPLICANT
The SSA focuses on medical evidence and legal standards. SSA’s judges are trained to decide whether you are disabled under the law. They do not to measure how the delays in the SSA process affects your mental health.
However, the reality is that the waiting period often changes the medical picture. Someone who initially applied based on a back injury may develop depression and anxiety during the years spent waiting for a decision. These additional conditions are real impairments. Most importantly, the SSA can consider additional mental conditions if you submit medical evidence.
That is why it is important not to ignore mental health symptoms during the appeal process. Even if you did not have a history of anxiety before filing for benefits, the stress of waiting can create a new conditions that should be part of your claim. Therefore, tell your doctor about your mental health issues. Then, seek counseling.
DOCUMENTING THE MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF SSA DELAY
Medical records are the most important evidence in a Social Security Disability case. If you are experiencing anxiety or other symptoms while waiting for the SSA to make a decision, then tell your doctors. A record of treatment not only helps your health, it also creates evidence that can support your case.
Be honest with your doctors about how the stress of waiting is affecting you. Explain that you cannot sleep and that you feel hopeless. Likewise, tell them if you are experiencing panic attacks. If your condition worsens over time, then make sure your doctor records your symptoms. Without records, the SSA has no way of knowing the extent of your emotional or physical suffering.
At the hearing stage, your testimony can also play an important role in winning benefits. Judges often ask about daily functioning. You should describe how mental health symptoms interfere with your ability to concentrate. Tell the judge about whether you have trouble following instructions or interacting with others. Your attorney can help you prepare to testify clearly.
THE ROLE OF AN ATTORNEY IN ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
An experienced disability attorney knows how to incorporate mental health evidence into your case. Attorneys can obtain medical records. They can also request opinions from your treating providers. Finally, they can argue that mental issues like anxiety reduce your ability to work.
Your attorney can also submit records and make arguments prior to a hearing. When you hire an SSD lawyer to help you they will try to win your case as quickly as possible. There is a cost to you in SSA’s delays, but there is also costs to the taxpayers. For example, the longer a case is delayed, the greater time and money are spent by the SSA to process the case.
Similarly, if the SSA delays the case, then applicants must use other resources. For example, many people waiting for SSA must go on welfare. Or, they must apply for Medicaid Benefits and state disability programs. Funding these resources costs all taxpayers.
At our SSD law firm, we recognize the human side of the process. We know that waiting is one of the hardest parts of applying for SSD benefits. Our role is to present the strongest possible legal case. We can also to make sure to explain how SSA delay has affected you.
THE IMPACT OF SSA DELAYS ON FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS
Applicants for benefits struggle with the emotional toll of waiting. Additionally, their families and caregivers suffer. Spouses may carry the burden of providing for the household on a single income. Children may see the stress in the home and feel scared about the future.
Caregivers, who already face physical and emotional strain, may find their responsibilities increase. Family stress can lead to arguments. When one person in a family cannot work, it can cause broken relationships. The impact of SSA delay is rarely limited to one person alone. The issues extend outward, affecting entire families.
DELAYS UNDERMINE THE PURPOSE OF THE SSA SYSTEM
The Social Security Disability program was designed to provide a safety net for people who can no longer work due to serious medical conditions. But when delays stretch into years, it undermines the very purpose of the system. A safety net that arrives too late does not serve its function.
In some cases, people die before their hearing is scheduled. Others lose their homes and their ability to access consistent medical treatment. The SSA’s backlog is not only a bureaucratic issue—it is a human rights issue. SSA delays deny timely protection to the very people the system was created to help.
HOW CAN YOU COPE DURING SSA’S DELAYS
Although you cannot control the speed , there are ways to reduce the toll that waiting takes on your mental health. Stay connected to friends, family, and your support system. This can reduce isolation.
Also, seek counseling or therapy. A counselor can provide tools to manage stress. While waiting, apply for other assistance programs. For example, apply for food assistance, housing aid. and Medicaid Benefits. Filing for other programs can ease your financial burden.
Maintaining a routine can also help. Even simple daily tasks, such as regular exercise, preparing meals, or hobbies can create structure and reduce stress.
DURING THE SSA DELAY, CREATE A STRONG DISABILITY CASE
An SSD attorney can help you learn about filing for SSDI and SSI benefits. Working with an attorney will help you create a strong case. If you hire our SSD law firm, then we make sure your application for benefits is complete.
Likewise, we will appeal any SSA denial. We will also help you collect your medical records. Also, we will prepare you testify at your hearing. At your hearing, we also question the experts. The judge may hire a medical expert (ME) and vocational expert (VE) to the hearing.
Normally, the medical expert testifies about whether your medical condition meets or equals a listing. You will need an attorney to question the medical expert or object to testimony from the expert. The judge can also call a VE. The VE’s testimony will be about the kind of jobs you might be able to do with your physical and mental conditions. Learn why a VE attends your hearing.
Applying for benefits can be a difficult process. Hiring a legal team with experience to help you through the process is a great choice. This will make the application and waiting process easier for you.
WE CAN HELP YOU WIN YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY CASE
The long wait for Social Security benefits is more than an inconvenience — it can create lasting harm to your health and your ability to move forward with your life. Anxiety, depression, and constant financial stress are issues that impact everyone filing for disability benefits. These issues are real. Furthermore, they matter when it comes to proving your disability claim.
At our SSD law firm, we understand what you are going through. Our attorneys have helped thousands of clients through win benefits. We know how to build the best possible case. Additionally, we gather the medical evidence and help you present your testimony so the judge understands your health.
By seeking treatment, speaking honestly with your providers, and working with an attorney who understands the full picture, you can ensure that the hidden cost of waiting is not ignored.
You do not have to face the SSA delays on your own. We will stand by you. Our lawyers will protect your rights and fight for the benefits you deserve. Contact us today. Let us put our experience to work for you.
