THE DECISION WRITING PROCESS

What happens after a judge approves a disability claim?

Often, a judge will make a decision within 3 or 4 days after a Social Security disability hearing. However, the claimant will not get the decision for up to 6 weeks later. What's happening during this time?

The answer: Your case has moved to the Decision Writing process. The judge has made a decision and sent it to an attorney or other trained individual who will write the decision. The decision writer will draft a formal, legal document that explains the judge's decision and the legal rationale for it. The decision will explain what evidence was considered and which Social Security regulations were used in reaching the decision.

The decision writing process can take from one week to six weeks or more. When it is complete, the decision writer sends the decision to the judge to review. If the judge doesn't want any changes made, he or she signs the decision and it is released. A copy is mailed to the client and a copy is mailed to the representative.

Can you call to find out about the decision while it is Decision Writing? No. Social Security will not tell you or your representative what the decision is until the writing process is complete, signed by the judge, and sent out in the mail. The representative may be able at that point to access the decision through his/her online account at Social Security.