How Long Does it Take to Get Disability Benefits in South Carolina?

The time it takes for each applicant to get disability benefits will vary because each applicant’s medical situation and job history are different. You can’t know precisely how long your Social Security Disability claim will take until after the Social Security Administration (SSA) makes a final decision regarding your application.

Waiting and not knowing, though, adds to the worry during an already worrisome time. An experienced South Carolina Social Security Disability lawyer may give you a realistic picture of what your case might take and what you can expect during each step of the process.

How Long Will it Take to Get Disability Benefits in South Carolina?

No one can tell you exactly how long it will take for you to secure SSDI benefits if you face a disability.  The process depends on many different factors, including the backlog faced by the SSA and whether or not the agency accepts your initial application or makes you go through the appeals process.

An attorney can focus on minimizing the time you have to wait to get benefits. Still, even a lawyer cannot predict how long it will take you to get disability benefits in South Carolina.

Seeking Social Security Disability Is a Process

If you can’t work due to a serious medical condition, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits can help you avoid financial disaster and regain much-needed stability. However, most people receive a denial when they first apply for Social Security Disability Benefits.

In South Carolina, only 37.6 percent of initial claims in 2020 received approval for benefit payments, according to Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Fortunately, you can appeal the decision. A lawyer can explain the steps to take when your Social Security Disability is denied, so you can navigate the appeals process.

It’s complicated, but a disability lawyer can be your guide. No matter where you are in the process of applying for disability benefits or appealing a disability denial, we strongly encourage you to get legal help.

Important Times for Disability Benefits in South Carolina

Here are some processing times for Social Security Disability applications:

Initial Applications:

• 12 months: Processing time at the initial level can be over a year.
• 60 days: If the SSA denies your initial application, you’ll have 60 days to file for an appeal. Then you’ll again need to wait for an answer.

Levels of Appeal:

If rejected at any point, you can choose to take your case to the next level. Each step takes time, but it may be impossible to predict precisely how long the process will take for you.

• Reconsideration: You start your disability appeal by asking for a reconsideration. However, approval rates are low at the reconsideration stage.
• Disability Hearing: The next step in appealing is going to a disability hearing. There is a wait for that, but a larger percentage of people are approved at this level than on reconsideration.
• Appeals Council: If you are denied again by the disability judge, next you go to Social Security’s Appeals Council.
• Federal Court: When you’ve reached the end of all your avenues to appeal within Social Security, you can file a civil suit in a federal district court.

An experienced disability attorney in South Carolina knows the challenges at every level. You can start by having Pilzer Klein provide an initial consultation on your situation, at no charge.

How Can a Social Security Disability Lawyer in South Carolina Help Expedite the Process?

An experienced Social Security disability attorney can provide invaluable assistance throughout the application and appeals process, often helping to expedite things and increase your chances of approval:

• Evaluating your initial eligibility and identifying whether you have a qualifying disability
• Properly filing your claim 
• Gathering supporting medical documentation, income taxes, and additional documents
• Preparing you for consultative exams or hearings before judges
• Handling all paperwork, filings, and deadlines with precision
• Making compelling legal arguments for your disability case
• Handling the multi-level appeals process if initially denied

With an attorney’s experience and knowledge of SSA regulations and evidentiary requirements, you’ll have much better odds of getting approved – whether at the initial application stage or if an appeal is required.

South Carolina Disability Attorneys Can Save You Time and Help You Win

When you’re preparing your disability application or appeal, disability attorneys can take on much of the legwork for you, making the process less stressful and time-consuming. And then, government studies have shown that your chance of getting approved for benefits can be better with a lawyer.

Approval rates are up to three times greater, for example, when you have a representative in your hearing instead of going it alone.

Talk to Us About Getting the Benefits You Deserve

So, how long will it take to get South Carolina disability benefits? No one can tell you precisely how long the SSA will take to handle your benefits request, but you can potentially minimize the time by hiring a lawyer.

At Pilzer Klein, we’ve helped thousands of people in South Carolina get through the application process and gain benefits approval for decades. With over 50 years of combined experience, we’re ready to help you.

If the initial decision for your application wasn’t favorable, don’t give up hope. We know the local health care services and people in the local Social Security offices, so you can get the best chance at a smooth process. There’s never an attorney fee until you win benefits.