You’ve filed your reconsideration request, submitted your forms, and gathered your medical evidence. Now comes the hardest part: waiting. The period after filing but before receiving a decision can feel endless, especially when you’re living without income and dealing with a disabling condition.

You might be wondering what’s happening with your case, whether Social Security received all your evidence, and when you can expect a decision. Understanding what happens during this waiting period – what Social Security is doing, what you should be doing, and when to expect communication – helps reduce anxiety and ensures you don’t miss important requests or opportunities to strengthen your case.

Review Phase

After you file your reconsideration request, your case enters a queue at your state’s Disability Determination Services (DDS) office. Here’s what happens:

Case Assignment
Your case is assigned to a disability examiner who was not involved in the initial determination. Depending on the workload at your local DDS office, it may take several weeks before an examiner is assigned to your case.

File Review
The examiner retrieves your complete disability file, which includes everything from your initial application: your application forms, work history, medical records, and the reasoning from the initial denial. They also review any new evidence you submitted when filing your reconsideration request or afterward.

Medical Record Requests
If your file is missing records from treating providers you listed, the examiner may request those records directly from your doctors. This process can take several weeks or even months, depending on how quickly medical providers respond.

Medical Consultant Review
The examiner may consult with a medical or psychological consultant—a physician or psychologist who works with DDS to review medical evidence and provide opinions about the severity of your condition and your functional limitations. These consultants don’t examine you in person; they review your records and provide written opinions.

Consultative Exam (If Needed)
If the examiner determines they need additional medical information beyond what’s in your file, they may schedule you for a consultative examination (CE). This is a one-time exam with a doctor chosen by Social Security. You’ll receive a notice by mail telling you the date, time, and location of the exam.

Attending the CE is mandatory. Failure to attend will result in denial of your reconsideration.

Decision
After the examiner has all the evidence they need and has completed their review, they make a determination about whether to approve or deny your claim. This determination is documented in a written decision letter that is mailed to you.

Requests for Information

During the review phase, Social Security may send you various requests:

Disability Report – Appeal (Form SSA-3441)
If you didn’t complete this form when filing your reconsideration, Social Security may send it to you later. This form asks about changes in your condition, new medical treatment, work activity, and other updates since your initial application.

Additional Medical Authorizations (Form SSA-827)
If you’re being treated by new providers who weren’t listed in your initial application, Social Security may ask you to sign additional authorization forms so they can request records from those providers.

Function Report or Activities Questionnaire
Social Security may send forms asking detailed questions about your daily activities, limitations, and functional abilities. These forms help them understand how your condition affects your ability to work and perform basic activities.

Consultative Exam Notice
If Social Security schedules you for a consultative exam, you’ll receive a notice by mail. The notice will include the date, time, location, and type of exam. It will also explain that attendance is mandatory.

Verification of Work Activity
If there are questions about whether you’ve worked since your initial application, Social Security may ask for pay stubs, tax records, or other documentation of your work history and earnings.

When you receive any of these requests, read them carefully and respond within the specified timeframe – usually 10 to 30 days. If you don’t respond, the examiner may issue a decision based on incomplete information, which typically results in denial.

Decision Issuance

The timeline for receiving a decision varies significantly depending on several factors:

Average Timeline
Most reconsideration decisions are issued within three to six months of filing. However, this is an average—some cases are decided more quickly, while others take much longer.

Factors That Affect Timeline

• Office workload: Some DDS offices are more backlogged than others.
• Complexity of the case: Cases involving multiple medical conditions or complicated work histories take longer to review.
• Medical record delays: If your doctors are slow to respond to records requests, it extends the timeline.
• Consultative exams: Scheduling and completing CEs adds weeks to the process.
• Missing evidence: If key evidence is missing and the examiner needs to track it down, the review takes longer.

Checking Status
You can check the status of your reconsideration by:

• Calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213
• Visiting your local Social Security office
• Checking online through your my Social Security account (if available)

However, frequent status checks won’t speed up the process. The examiner will issue a decision when their review is complete.

The Decision Letter
When a decision is made, you’ll receive a written notice by mail. If approved, the letter will explain your benefit amount, when payments will begin, and any retroactive benefits you’re entitled to receive.

If denied, the letter will explain the reasons for the denial and inform you of your right to request a hearing before an administrative law judge—the next level of appeal. You’ll have 60 days from the date you receive the denial letter to request a hearing.

Why This Happens

The long waiting period during reconsideration is a product of several factors. DDS offices process enormous volumes of cases with limited staff, which creates backlogs. Medical providers are often slow to respond to records requests, which delays the review. And the disability determination process itself is complex, requiring detailed analysis of medical evidence, functional capacity, and vocational factors.

From your perspective, the waiting period can feel interminable, especially when you’re living without income. From Social Security’s perspective, they’re trying to balance the need for thorough, accurate determinations with the pressure to process cases as quickly as possible.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t Assume No News Is Bad News
Just because you haven’t heard anything for several weeks doesn’t mean your case isn’t being worked on. Most of the reconsideration process happens behind the scenes, and you won’t necessarily receive updates unless Social Security needs something from you.

Don’t Ignore Correspondence
If Social Security sends you a letter, open it immediately and read it carefully. Many important requests and deadlines arrive by mail. Ignoring correspondence can result in your case being denied for failure to cooperate.

Don’t Miss a Consultative Exam
If you’re scheduled for a consultative exam, attend it. If you absolutely cannot attend due to an emergency, contact Social Security immediately—on the same day—to explain and reschedule. Don’t simply skip the exam and hope for the best.

Don’t Stop Your Medical Treatment
Continue seeing your doctors and following prescribed treatment throughout the reconsideration process. Ongoing treatment creates a continuing record of your disability and shows that your condition remains serious enough to require medical care.

Don’t Submit Evidence Without Notifying Social Security
If you obtain new medical records after filing your reconsideration, submit them to Social Security. Don’t assume the examiner will automatically request them—proactively provide any evidence that strengthens your case.

Deadlines and Next Steps

There’s no specific action you need to take during the waiting period unless Social Security contacts you with a request. Your primary responsibilities are:

1. Respond promptly to any requests from Social Security.
2. Attend any scheduled consultative exams.
3. Continue your medical treatment and keep copies of all records.
4. Maintain current contact information with Social Security so you don’t miss important correspondence.

If your reconsideration is denied, you’ll have 60 days from the date you receive the denial letter to request a hearing. Don’t wait until the last minute—start preparing for the hearing as soon as you receive the decision.

Moving Forward

The waiting period after filing reconsideration is frustrating, but it’s a necessary part of the process. During this time, Social Security is reviewing your evidence, consulting with medical experts, and making a determination about your claim.

Your job during this waiting period is to stay engaged: respond to requests, attend exams, continue treatment, and be ready to move forward regardless of whether the decision is approval or denial. The waiting will eventually end, and when it does, you’ll need to be prepared for whatever comes next.