North Dakota and Social Security Disability Benefits
- Why is State-by-State Information Important?
- Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits in North Dakota – What You Need To Know
- North Dakota SSDI Hearing Wait Times & Approval By Office
- Hearing Offices in North Dakota & The SSA Offices They Serve
- List of Social Security Administration Field Offices in North Dakota
- More Important Information about The Application Process
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 North Dakota – 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota below.
Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits in North Dakota – 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 North Dakota 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) | |
|---|---|---|---|
Initial Application (L1)
50.2%
|
Reconsideration (L2)
13.5%
|
Hearing (L3)
61.0%
|
|
Initial Application (L1)
39.5%
|
Reconsideration (L2)
15.1%
|
Hearing (L3)
57.7%
|
|
Initial Application (L1)
10.7%
|
Reconsideration (L2)
-1.6%
|
Hearing (L3)
3.4%
|
As the table shows, North Dakota is averaging higher than the national average at the Initial Application and Hearing level. The biggest difference is at the Initial Application which is 10.7% higher than the national average. However, is slightly trailing behind at the Reconsideration level.
North Dakota Initial Application Approval Over Time
| Initial Application Approval Rate | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initial Application Approval Rate
North Dakota
|
2024
50.2%
|
2023
47.5%
|
2022
43.4%
|
2021
44.3%
|
2020
48.2%
|
2019
51.9%
|
2018
46.0%
|
2017
45.1%
|
2016
44.7%
|
2015
43.2%
|
Initial Application Approval Rate
National Average
|
2024
39.5%
|
2023
38.9%
|
2022
38.8%
|
2021
37.7%
|
2020
38.3%
|
2019
37.6%
|
2018
35.3%
|
2017
34.4%
|
2016
33.5%
|
2015
32.8%
|
As the table and the below chart show, North Dakota has been significantly higher than the national average of Initial Applications going back to at least 2015. In 2024, North Dakota ranked 2nd in the nation in terms of percentage approval of Initial Applications. Even though they are better than the average, chances to win are still a coin flip. While approval rates have improved in North Dakota over the last few years, they still above the national average. If you are thinking of applying for SSDI, don’t worry – there are multiple stages to the application process.
North Dakota Reconsideration Approval Over Time
| Reconsideration Approval Rate | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reconsideration Approval Rate
North Dakota
|
2024
13.5%
|
2023
16.7%
|
2022
16.6%
|
2021
17.6%
|
2020
17.4%
|
2019
20.2%
|
2018
15.0%
|
2017
16.4%
|
2016
13.7%
|
2015
14.7%
|
Reconsideration Approval Rate
National Average
|
2024
15.1%
|
2023
15.5%
|
2022
15.0%
|
2021
13.2%
|
2020
13.6%
|
2019
13.4%
|
2018
12.4%
|
2017
12.9%
|
2016
12.6%
|
2015
11.7%
|
As the table and the below chart indicate, North Dakota has had its ups and downs over the years. Currently, North Dakota is below the national average when it comes to Approvals at the Reconsideration level. In 2024, North Dakota ranked 39th in the nation for highest percentage of approvals at Reconsideration. 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.
North Dakota Hearings Approval Over Time
| Hearing Approval Rate | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hearing Approval Rate
North Dakota
|
2024
61.0%
|
2023
63.3%
|
2022
51.6%
|
2021
52.6%
|
2020
50.3%
|
2019
58.4%
|
2018
57.8%
|
2017
59.5%
|
2016
57.4%
|
2015
54.5%
|
Hearing Approval Rate
National Average
|
2024
57.7%
|
2023
56.8%
|
2022
54.2%
|
2021
54.7%
|
2020
51.1%
|
2019
52.9%
|
2018
53.9%
|
2017
56.8%
|
2016
54.7%
|
2015
53.4%
|
As the table and the below chart indicate, North Dakota has stayed relatively close to, but is now above the national average when it comes to approvals at the Hearing level. In 2024, North Dakota ranked 11th in the nation for highest percentage of approvals at Hearings.
However, as you’ll see below, all individual hearing offices in North Dakota 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 North Dakota 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.
North Dakota SSDI Hearing Wait Times & Approval By Office
North Dakota is part of the Social Security Administration’s “Region 8,” which is headquartered in Denver. There is 1 hearing office in North Dakota. You can see waiting times for hearings & case dispositions for the office below, with comparisons to North Dakota 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) | |
|---|---|---|---|
Hearing Wait Time (Months)
9.3
|
Average Disposition Time (Days)
366
|
Average Approval Rate (2024)
57.7%
|
|
Hearing Wait Time (Months)
9.0
|
Average Disposition Time (Days)
330
|
Average Approval Rate (2024)
61.0%
|
|
Hearing Wait Time (Months)
9.0
|
Average Disposition Time (Days)
330
|
Average Approval Rate (2024)
61.0%
|
As the table here and the chart below indicate, in 2024, North Dakota has slightly shorter wait times than the national average. The average approval is slightly behind of the national average as well.
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 North Dakota & The SSA Offices They Serve
These are the “Office of Hearing Operations” offices in North Dakota. 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.
Hearing Office Region 8 Fargo SSA, OHO
Suite 150 655 First Avenue
North Fargo, North Dakota 58102-4971
(877) 319-3073 • (701) 239-5491 • (877) 389-4225
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
MINNESOTA: Alexandria, Bemidji, Brainerd, Fergus Falls, Marshall
NORTH DAKOTA: Bismarck, Devils Lake, Fargo, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Minot, Williston
List of Social Security Administration Field Offices in North Dakota
| Office Name | Location | Address | City | State | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Office Name
FARGO ND
|
Location
RM 320 FED BLDG
|
Address
657 2ND AVE N
|
City
FARGO
|
State
ND
|
Phone Number
(877) 335-4114
|
Office Name
MINOT ND
|
Location
MINOT METRO CENTER
|
Address
1414 20TH AVE SW
|
City
MINOT
|
State
ND
|
Phone Number
(866) 415-3193
|
Office Name
GRAND FORKS ND
|
Location
STE 300
|
Address
402 DEMERS AVE
|
City
GRAND FORKS
|
State
ND
|
Phone Number
(888) 617-0456
|
Office Name
BISMARCK ND
|
Location
SUITE 100
|
Address
4207 BOULDER RIDGE RD
|
City
BISMARCK
|
State
ND
|
Phone Number
(877) 319-6044
|
Swipe left & right to see the whole table
All data on this page is current as of July, 2024.
More Important Information about The Application Process
Linda Cosme formerly served as a Member of the Appeals Council (AC) for the Social Security Administration (SSA), and Program Expert for the Social Security Administration and Disability Quality Branch (DQB). Ms. Cosme also served as a Quality Assurance (QA) Reviewer, Initial Disability Examiner, Reconsideration Disability Examiner, and Continuing Disability Examiner (CDR) for the Disability Determination Services (DDS). She is admitted to practice law in Arizona, Georgia, and the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
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