# How long does the Appeals Council take?

You can check current averages before filing to set realistic expectations.

**Direct answer:** Appeals Council review of an SSDI case typically takes many months to more than a year, depending on caseload and the complexity of the issues — the SSA publishes current average processing times on its appeals performance pages.

## Where can I see current wait times?
The SSA publishes Appeals Council average processing times online and updates them regularly.

## Can Appeals Council review be expedited?
In limited critical-case circumstances such as terminal illness or dire need, similar to earlier appeal levels.

## What happens if I miss the 60-day deadline?
You can ask for a good-cause extension; otherwise the ALJ decision becomes final and you would need to file a new application.

## Sources
- SSA — Appeals Process (Appeals Council) — https://www.ssa.gov/appeals/appeals_process.html
- SSA — Appeals Council Processing Times — https://www.ssa.gov/appeals/DataSets/index.html

## Related questions
- [What is the Appeals Council?](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/what-is-the-appeals-council)
- [What happens in federal court for SSDI?](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/what-happens-in-federal-court-for-ssdi)
- [How do I appeal an SSDI denial?](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/how-do-i-appeal-an-ssdi-denial)
- [SSDI Appeals & Reconsideration](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/appeals)
## Topics
- SSDI Appeals — https://ssdidirectanswers.com/appeals

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