# What is the SSDI appeal timeline?

Every step has a hard 60-day deadline; SSA's own wait time varies by region and backlog.

**Direct answer:** The SSDI appeal timeline typically runs 3–6 months at reconsideration, a year or more of wait for the ALJ hearing, then further months at the Appeals Council or federal court — with a 60-day filing deadline at every step.

## Reconsideration

Roughly 3–6 months for the state Disability Determination Services to re-review. File within 60 days of the initial denial.

## ALJ hearing

Wait for the hearing is often over a year, then a written decision follows the hearing by weeks to months. File within 60 days of the reconsideration denial.

## Appeals Council and federal court

Appeals Council review commonly takes many months; federal court is measured in months to years. Deadlines remain 60 days at each step.

## Sources
- SSA — The Appeals Process — https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/appeal.html
- SSA — Hearing Process — https://www.ssa.gov/appeals/hearing_process.html

## Related questions
- [How long does SSDI reconsideration take?](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/how-long-does-ssdi-reconsideration-take)
- [How long is the wait for an SSDI ALJ hearing?](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/how-long-is-the-wait-for-an-alj-hearing)
- [How long does the Appeals Council take?](https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/how-long-does-the-appeals-council-take)
## Topics
- SSDI Appeals — https://ssdidirectanswers.com/appeals
- ALJ Hearing — https://ssdidirectanswers.com/answers/what-happens-at-an-ssdi-hearing

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