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How Long Does It Take to Get Approved for Disability in Brevard County Right Now?

You’ve found yourself unable to work and now you need to tap into disability benefits which you have paid into your entire working life. To get approved for these benefits you must essentially pass the gatekeepers. They will take a look at your application and decide if you meet the criteria laid out by law.

As with any application process, there is a waiting period from the time you apply until the moment you receive a decision. Currently, if you live in Brevard County, Florida then you may wait up to 240 days from application until you receive a decision. Brevard County is about 2-4 weeks behind the national average due to higher caseloads from retiree influx and post-pandemic backlogs. Also, Brevard’s Melbourne office sees steady volume from aerospace workers and veterans, adding 2-4 weeks.

Denial and Appeal

A large portion of initial applications are denied. This happens for various reasons. The number one reason applications are denied is that the applicant did not meet the minimum standard for approval. However, an applicant is entitled to an appeal. The time frame for a decision on an appeal is similar to the initial application wait times. Essentially, you can expect to wait 6-8 months in Florida.

It is highly recommended that you don’t appeal with the same exact information on your initial application. This will most certainly result in a denial. New and clearer information should be added to your appeal application.

The appeal process is when we meet many of our clients. After an initial denial, they will often reach out to an attorney for help. Disability attorneys specialize in helping clients build a case from the ground up. They also are very effective in constructing an appeal which is substantially better than the initial application.

If you appeal ends up going to a hearing, there is an addition wait time. But the good news is that Brevard: Florida’s hearing offices (including Orlando, serving you) are among the fastest in the U.S., averaging 7-9 months to hearing—shorter than states like California (14+ months).

If your case goes before the appeals counsel, this can add another 6-12 months to the process. Less than 15% of cases make it to this stage.