Can you speed up a request for a disability hearing ?

There are certain instances in which it may be possible to speed up a request for a disability hearing. Typically, those situations involve circumstances which point to a dire need as far as a social security disability or SSI case is concerned. For example, if a claimant is in danger of losing their home or having needed utilities shut off, this may qualify as a dire need. Also, if a claimant has a need for prescribed medications but no longer has the ability to obtain them, this may qualify as a dire need.

If you have a "dire need", how do you speed up a hearing request? You or your attorney should contact the office of hearings and appeals (also known as the office of disability adjudication and review) and let them know what your circumstances are. They may require that the request be put in writing and may also require that you or your attorney submit proof regarding your situation.

In many situations, sufficiently documenting that a dire need exists will result in a disability hearing being expedited; in other words, moved along faster. However, how much this will actually speed up a request for a disability hearing may vary from case to case. In fact, even if the total wait time for a disability hearing is cut in half, it may still be a number of months before a hearing date is granted. However, it is still worthwhile to make the attempt, because any amount of time that is saved may make a substantial financial difference for a claimant who is waiting on a hearing. In many cases, it can even make the difference between slipping into bankruptcy or not.