I applied Aug 2020 for SSDI . Oct 2020 my status online said DDS is processing medical & I should have a response to my application & it should take 8 months that was Oct 2020 so it has been 17 months ago.I applied in Aug 2020 almost 2 years ago now & I still haven't received an approval or denial. Online also says application is 90% complete. I am wondering how much longer I have to wait as this is financially challenging & I am sick..I can't get medicare & the only healthcare insurance I can get is that under the Affordable Healthcare Act which is pricey & inadequate. I am wondering how much longer it will take. I called SSA who directed me to DDS, called them multiple times to no avail.
Agent assigned to my case at DDS has been out of the office for a while & they don't know when she's returning. I left messages for her manager too. Manager had another agent call me back. That agent stated that after reading my assigned agent's notes they couldn't decipher it well enough to provide me a status update. They said they would have to wait until my agent returns so they can speak to her to find out my status. This is ridiculous. one would think the manager would take over & make a decision ,& call me back with an updated status. To be told we have to wait for one person who they g
have no clue when the person is returning to work is crazy. One person shouldn't be able to hold up an entire case like this. I don't know what else to do as I have left many messages regarding this at DDS. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Hi. I agree with you that it sounds like the manner in which your case has been handled is ridiculous and outrageous. I'm sure that COVID has caused numerous problems and delays, but it simply shouldn't take as long as you've been waiting in order to receive an initial determination on a claim for disability benefits.

I understand that Social Security is understaffed and under-budgeted, and I imagine that the Disability Determinations Service (DDS) offices are facing similar challenges. By the way, DDS's are state agencies that contract with Social Security to process disability determinations. So, even though the funding for DDS operations come from Social Security, the individual states are responsible for hiring and management at their DDS offices.

The only step that you haven't taken that I would suggest is to contact the offices of either your U.S. representative or one of your U.S. senators. Funding for both Social Security and DDS offices is authorized by Congress, and Social Security ultimately answers to Congress. I would think that your Congressional representatives would be appalled by the way your case has been handled, and hopefully they'd make an inquiry to Social Security on your behalf. In my experience, such inquiries often result in expedited handling of a case.

Best, Jerry