For many with disabling conditions which make holding a job impossible, Social Security disability benefits are a lifeline that helps them to maintain some degree of dignity by providing financial support. Unfortunately, though, qualifying for Social Security disability benefits often takes a long time. Eighteen months is about average, and several years is not uncommon.

When a disabling disease strikes, whether it’s you or your child, Social Security disability programs are designed to help you with the financial burdens that come from being able to continue working full time.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) does have a very narrow definition of disability however, and you must be completely unable to perform any kind of substantial gainful activity in order to qualify for benefits with most disabling conditions.

The Compassionate Allowance program is designed so that people with conditions which obviously cause them to qualify as disabled under the Social Security Administration (SSA)’s narrow definition of the term can be moved more quickly through the system. This allows them to begin to receive Social Security disability benefits in a timelier manner.

Coping with disabilities can be difficult. When it’s your child with a serious disability, it can be even harder. Often, taking care of children with disabilities requires a hefty time commitment and precludes one or both parents from continuing to work at the level they had previously. Fortunately, Social Security disability benefits are available to help defray some of the added living expenses if your child has a qualifying disability.

Often, those who have children with disabilities face an uphill battle trying to gain Social Security Disability benefits based on their children’s disabilities. This can be especially trying for those who are unable to continue working (or unable to continue working on the level they once did) because of the need to give adequate care for a disabled child.

This year, like every other year, the Social Security Administration will be swamped with millions of disability claims. Some of these (about 30%) will be approved on their first pass. Others will be approved later, during the appeals process. Those who must go through the appeals process are in for a prolonged fight that lasts at least three to six months. On average, Social Security Disability claims that are approved in the appellate process take 18 months. Often, they take considerably longer than that.

Typically, when you apply for Social Security Disability benefits, you can expect to wait several months. More often than not, the initial claim is denied, and you are left facing a lengthy appeals process that involves asking for a redetermination and having a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, among other things. In some cases, you could be waiting several years before your claim is approved and you are able to start collecting Social Security Disability benefits.

Year after year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) deals with an overwhelming number of Social Security disability cases. Literally millions of new cases are considered every year. One of the unfortunate effects of such a heavy case load is that it often takes a long time for claims to be considered. The average time it takes for a disability claim to be approved is closer to 18 months and often includes a number of appeals.