How long does it take to receive a decision after the Hearing, and what happens if the claim is again denied?
A. Depending upon the complexity of the claim and the workload of the particular Judge who conducts the Hearing, a claimant can sometimes receive a decision within a few weeks or it may take as long as several months. If the claimant receives a Favorable Decision from the Judge, the claim is then forwarded for the calculation of benefits which can then take several more months. If the Judge denies the claim at the Hearing, a claimant has another sixty (60) day window after receiving the Unfavorable Decision to appeal to the Appeals Council, which is located in Falls Church, Virginia. The claimant must submit a request for review of the hearing decision either at the local Social Security office or by mailing the appeal directly to the Appeals Council.
