Colorado and Social Security Disability Benefits
- Why is State-by-State Information Important?
- Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits in Colorado – What You Need To Know
- Colorado SSDI Hearing Wait Times & Approval By Office
- Hearing Offices in Colorado & The SSA Offices They Serve
- List of Social Security Administration Field Offices in Colorado
ALL STATE DATA UPDATED FOR 2024!
Everyone’s experience applying for Social Security Disability benefits will be unique. Part of this is because everyone’s individual medical and work history is different. But, potential applicants should also know that each state – like Colorado – has its own story to tell in terms of social security disability benefit approval rates at each stage of the process, as well as waiting times at the hearing stage.
Why is State-by-State Information Important?
Specialized disability advocates (like us here at Citizens Disability) and Colorado social security disability attorneys know all too well how important it is to understand that every state is different. It’s very helpful to know what the trends are, how long the wait times are from office to office, and what the different rates of approvals are.
Citizens Disability takes a data-driven approach to helping our clients. We want to make sure that we’re giving our clients the best possible advice at every step in the application process. We also work very hard to present the best possible case for each of our clients. Bringing together data from a wide variety of sources – including data like this, which comes from the Social Security Administration – allows us to make smart decisions when we present cases for our clients.
Finally, this information can be very helpful to applicants. Applying for social security benefits is likely a new experience for most applicants, and having an idea of what they can expect from the process can help them be engaged and involved participants with their advocates.
While your own journey may be different than the trends you see here, these tables and charts can help you understand what, on average, you can expect.
You will also find location and contact information for all the offices in Colorado below.
Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits in Colorado – What You Need To Know
There are generally three stages in the application process for Social Security Disability benefits: initial application, reconsideration, and the hearing. In this table, you can see how Colorado compares to the national average (all states in America) when it comes to approval rates at each of those stages.
| Initial Application (L1) | Reconsideration (L2) | Hearing (L3) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 39.0% | 14.7% | 52.7% |
| National Average | 39.5% | 15.1% | 57.7% |
| State Difference: | -0.5% | -0.4% | -5.0% |
As the table shows, in 2024 Colorado lagged behind the national average in terms of Reconsideration, initial application and approvals at the hearing level.
Colorado Initial Application Approval Over Time
| Initial Application Approval Rate | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 39.0% | 36.8% | 37.3% | 38.7% | 37.4% | 44.2% | 40.5% | 36.4% | 33.7% | 31.4% |
| National Average | 39.5% | 38.9% | 38.8% | 37.7% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 35.3% | 34.4% | 33.5% | 32.8% |
As the table and the below chart show, Colorado has been generally on-par with national averages for approvals of Initial Applications going back to at least 2015. In 2024, Colorado ranked 35th in the nation in terms of percentage approval of Initial Applications. While approval rates are ahead of national averages, as you can see only about 4 in 10 initial applications in Colorado are approved. If you are thinking of applying for SSDI, don’t worry – there are multiple stages to the application process.
Colorado Reconsideration Approval Over Time
| Reconsideration Approval Rate | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 14.7% | 13.8% | 11.0% | 12.1% | 12.0% | 11.2% | 18.5% | 13.6% | 10.2% | 10.1% |
| National Average | 15.1% | 15.5% | 15.0% | 13.2% | 13.6% | 13.4% | 12.4% | 12.9% | 12.6% | 11.7% |
As the table and the below chart indicate, Colorado is just below the national average when it comes to approvals at the Reconsideration level – . In 2024, Colorado ranked 30th in the nation for highest percentage of approvals at Reconsideration, falling just below the National Average. However, as you can see, in general, the chances of winning approval at Reconsideration are not particularly high. That is why many applicants must continue in the next level, the Hearing.
Colorado Hearings Approval Over Time
| Hearing Approval Rate | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 52.7% | 51.3% | 48.4% | 51.2% | 45.5% | 44.4% | 47.6% | 53.2% | 49.7% | 50.2% |
| National Average | 57.7% | 56.8% | 54.2% | 54.7% | 51.1% | 52.9% | 53.9% | 56.8% | 54.7% | 53.4% |
As the table and the below chart indicate, Colorado is right behind the the national average when it comes to approvals at the Hearing level. In 2024, Colorado ranked 38th in the nation for highest percentage of approvals at Hearings, falling 5.0% below the National Average.
However, as you’ll see below, all individual hearing offices in Colorado are not the same – each office has its own approval rates, and almost as importantly, waiting times. Which hearing office your case is assigned to in Colorado may have a significant bearing on your chances for approval.
Also worthy of note is the fact that past performance is only one indicator of likely outcomes; as new data comes in, you might see that a state’s performance compared to the national average has either improved or weakened.
Colorado SSDI Hearing Wait Times & Approval By Office
Colorado is part of the Social Security Administration’s “Region 8,” which is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. There are 2 hearing offices in Colorado. You can see waiting times for hearings & case dispositions for each office below, with comparisons to Colorado and National Averages.
The “Hearing Wait Time (Months)” is, on average, how long it takes in between when an applicant asks for a Hearing and when that hearing occurs.
The “Average Disposition Time (Days)” is, on average, the number of days in between when an applicant asks for a Hearing, and when the Administrative Law Judge who hears their case actually makes a decision on that case.
The “Average Approval Rate” is percentage at which cases are decided in favor of the applicant.
| Hearing Wait Time (Months) | Average Disposition Time (Days) | Average Approval Rate (2024) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Average | 9.3 | 366 | 57.7% |
| Colorado Average | 9.0 | 350 | 52.7% |
| COLORADO SPRINGS | 9.0 | 357 | 44.9% |
| DENVER | 9.0 | 343 | 57.4% |
As the table here and the chart below indicate, in 2024, Colorado is trailing behind the national average in terms of approval rates at the Hearing level.
These waiting times and approval rates only highlight how important it can be to have a qualified representative – such as an Advocate from Citizens Disability – working on your case. The Government Accountability Office has done research that shows that an applicant who has a representative has an up to three times greater chance of being approved than a person who goes it alone.
Hearing Offices in Colorado & The SSA Offices They Serve
These are the “Office of Hearing Operations” offices in Colorado. These offices are where hearings are scheduled and generally conducted. Each OHO office supports a number of regional Social Security Administration field offices. You are likely (but not guaranteed) to have your hearing scheduled with a Judge who works in the OHO office that supports the SSA field office nearest to you.
Regional Office Region 8 Denver SSA, OHO
Suite 600 1244 Speer Boulevard
Denver, Colorado 80204-3584
(888) 397-9803 • (303) 844-6092
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
Satellite Office Region 8 Colorado Springs SSA, OHO
Plaza of the Rockies, North Tower 111 S. Tejon Street, Suite 401
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903
(888) 844-8269 • (719) 634-1735 • (877) 389-4219
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
COLORADO: Alamosa, Canon City, Colorado Springs, Durango, La Junta, Pueblo, Trinidad
Hearing Office Region 8 Denver SSA, OHO
Suite 752 1244 Speer Boulevard
Denver, Colorado 80204-3584
(888) 383-8889 • (303) 844-5817 • (877) 389-4221
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
COLORADO: Aurora, Denver, Fort Collins, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction, Greeley, Lakewood, Littleton, Louisville, Montrose
List of Social Security Administration Field Offices in Colorado
| Office Name | Location | Address | City | State | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LITTLETON CO | 8000 SOUTHPARK LN | LITTLETON | CO | (800) 772-1213 | |
| LAKEWOOD CO | 13151 W ALAMEDA PKWY | LAKEWOOD | CO | (800) 772-1213 | |
| DENVER CO | 2ND FL SUITE 200 | 1500 CHAMPA ST | DENVER | CO | (800) 772-1213 |
| PUEBLO CO | 3769 PARKER BLVD | PUEBLO | CO | (888) 737-1761 | |
| GRAND JUNCTION CO | 825 NORTH CREST DRIVE | GRAND JUNCTION | CO | (866) 931-7120 | |
| GREELEY CO | SUITE A | 5400 WEST 11 ST | GREELEY | CO | (877) 405-9195 |
| TRINIDAD CO | 111 WAVERLY AVENUE | TRINIDAD | CO | (866) 755-5009 | |
| COLORADO SPRINGS CO | 2306 E PIKES PEAK AVE | COLORADO SPRINGS | CO | (888) 880-0688 | |
| ALAMOSA CO | 602 DEL SOL DRIVE 1-A | ALAMOSA | CO | (888) 475-0297 | |
| LOUISVILLE CO | 480 W DAHLIA ST | LOUISVILLE | CO | (800) 772-1213 | |
| DURANGO CO | SUITE 120 | 103 SHEPPARD DRIVE | DURANGO | CO | (888) 472-6115 |
| FORT COLLINS CO | 4TH FLOOR | 301 S HOWES ST | FT COLLINS | FT COLLINS | (866) 336-7385 |
| AURORA CO | SUITE 250 | 14280 E JEWELL AVE | AURORA | CO | (800) 772-1213 |
| MONTROSE CO | 1805 PAVILION DR | MONTROSE | CO | (866) 758-1317 | |
| CANON CITY CO | 115 N 10TH ST | CANON CITY | CO | (866) 272-5728 |
Swipe left & right to see the whole table
All data on this page is current as of February, 2023.
It is easy to get started.
It is easy to get started. No upfront costs – You only pay if we win!
Oops! We could not locate your form.
