Q. When can I expect a Social Security Hearing?

A. There are a large number of Social Security Appeals and it is often many months before each level of an appeal is decided. You are generally given four to six (4- 6) weeks notice before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing and you will be expected to attend that hearing unless you have an extraordinary reason why you cannot attend. The exact number of months between appeals varies from case to case and there is little that can be done by you or your lawyer to speed up the process due to the huge backlog of cases waiting for a hearing. Once a hearing is held, the ALJ will render a decision within a few months of the hearing.