Washington and Social Security Disability Benefits
- Why is State-by-State Information Important?
- Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits in Washington – What You Need To Know
- Washington SSDI Hearing Wait Times & Approval By Office
- Hearing Offices in Washington State & The SSA Offices They Serve
- List of Social Security Administration Field Offices in Washington
- 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 Washington – 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 Washington 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 Washington below.
Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits in Washington State – 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 Washington 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) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 40.5% | 13.7% | 55.8% |
| National Average | 39.5% | 15.1% | 57.7% |
| State Difference: | 1.0% | -1.3% | -1.8% |
As the table shows, Washington has been slightly ahead of the national average at the Initial Application. However, is slightly behind at the Reconsideration level and Hearing level.
Washington State Initial Application Approval Over Time
| Initial Application Approval Rate | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 40.5% | 41.2% | 41.4% | 41.8% | 41.4% | 39.4% | 38.2% | 39.4% | 39.6% | 38.1% |
| 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, Washington has been consistently ahead of the national average for Initial Applications going back to at least 2015. In 2024, Washington ranked 27th in the nation in terms of percentage approval of Initial Applications. Approval rates have held steady in Washington over the last couple years, they still stayed above the national average. If you are thinking of applying for SSDI, don’t worry – there are multiple stages to the application process.
Washington State Reconsideration Approval Over Time
| Reconsideration Approval Rate | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 13.7% | 17.4% | 14.1% | 14.6% | 13.1% | 13.0% | 13.6% | 14.6% | 14.4% | 14.2% |
| 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, Washington has been slightly below the national average when it comes to Approvals at the Reconsideration level. In 2024, Washington ranked 37th 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.
Washington Hearings Approval Over Time
| Hearing Approval Rate | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 55.8% | 52.1% | 48.9% | 49.4% | 51.1% | 53.3% | 52.2% | 56.3% | 55.4% | 54.4% |
| 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, Washington has dramatically declined in its approval rates over the years, currently below the national average when it comes to approvals at the Hearing level. In 2024, Washington ranked 27th in the nation for highest percentage of approvals at Hearings.
However, as you’ll see below, all individual hearing offices in Washington 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 Washington 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.
Washington SSDI Hearing Wait Times & Approval By Office
Washington is part of the Social Security Administration’s “Region 10,” which is headquartered in Seattle. There are 3 hearing offices in Washington. You can see waiting times for hearings & case dispositions for each office below, with comparisons to Washington 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% |
| Washington Average | 12.1 | 433 | 55.8% |
| SEATTLE | 14.0 | 554 | 51.0% |
| SPOKANE | 12.3 | 394 | 68.5% |
| TACOMA | 10.0 | 352 | 50.1% |
As the table here and the chart below indicate, in 2024, the wait times in Washington for all 3 offices are longer than the national average. The approval rates statewide are slightly below the national average. Spokane has the highest approval rate at 68.5%, above the national average of 57.7%.
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 Washington State & The SSA Offices They Serve
These are the “Office of Hearing Operations” offices in Washington. 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 10 Seattle SSA, OHO
Columbia Tower, Suite 2900 701 5th Avenue, M\S 904
Seattle, Washington 98104-7075
(206) 615-2236 • (206) 615-2247
Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
Hearing Office Region 10 Seattle SSA, OHO
Yesler Building, Suite 500 300 5th Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98104-3389
(888) 366-6144 • (206) 615-3731 • (877) 714-3634
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WASHINGTON: Bellevue, Bellingham, Everett, Kitsap, Lynnwood, Mt. Vernon, Port Angeles, Renton, Seattle (Metro), Seattle (North), Wenatchee, Yakima
Hearing Office Region 10 Spokane SSA, OHO
Suite 200 714 N Iron Bridge Way
Spokane, Washington 99202-4929
(888) 253-3903 • (509) 353-2986 • (877) 714-3615
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
IDAHO: Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston
WASHINGTON: Kennewick (Tri-Cities), Pullman, Spokane, Walla Walla
OREGON: Pendleton
Hearing Office Region 10 Tacoma SSA, OHO
Suite 200 2413 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, Washington 98402
(888) 208-4640 • (253) 272-0143 • (877) 313-4919
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WASHINGTON: Centralia, Grays Harbor, Kent, Olympia, Puyallup, Tacoma
List of Social Security Administration Field Offices in Washington
| Office Name | Location | Address | City | State | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BELLEVUE WA | SUITE 100 | 636 120TH AVE NE | BELLEVUE | WA | (800) 772-1213 |
| KENT WA | SUITE 401 | 321 RAMSAY WAY | KENT | WA | (800) 772-1213 |
| SPOKANE WA | SUITE 100 | 714 N IRON BRIDGE WAY | SPOKANE | WA | (800) 772-1213 |
| SEATTLE METRO WA | SUITE 901 | 915 2ND AVE | SEATTLE | WA | (800) 772-1213 |
| TACOMA WA | SUITE A | 2608 S 47TH ST | TACOMA | WA | (800) 772-1213 |
| OLYMPIA WA | 402 YAUGER WAY SW | OLYMPIA | WA | (800) 772-1213 | |
| YAKIMA WA | 801 FRUITVALE BLVD | YAKIMA | WA | (800) 772-1213 | |
| BELLINGHAM WA | 710 ALABAMA ST | BELLINGHAM | WA | (800) 772-1213 | |
| GRAYS HARBOR WA | 820 SIMPSON AVE | HOQUIAM | WA | (800) 772-1213 | |
| EVERETT WA | 3809 BROADWAY | EVERETT | WA | (800) 772-1213 | |
| VANCOUVER WA | SUITE 500 | 805 BROADWAY ST | VANCOUVER | WA | (800) 772-1213 |
| WENATCHEE WA | STE 212 | 301 YAKIMA STREET | WENATCHEE | WA | (800) 772-1213 |
| WALLA WALLA WA | 880 NE ROSE ST | COLLEGE PLACE | WA | (800) 772-1213 | |
| KITSAP WA | 9594 MICKELBERRY RD NW | SILVERDALE | WA | (800) 772-1213 | |
| TRI-CITIES WA | SUITE A | 8131 W KLAMATH CT | KENNEWICK | WA | (800) 772-1213 |
| LONGVIEW WA | SUITE 150 | 840 OCEAN BEACH HWY | LONGVIEW | WA | (800) 772-1213 |
| SEATTLE NORTH WA | SUITE B | 13510 AURORA AVE N | SEATTLE | WA | (800) 772-1213 |
| BURIEN WA | 151 SW 156 STREET | BURIEN | WA | (800) 772-1213 | |
| MT VERNON WA | SUITE A | 710 E COLLEGE WAY | MT VERNON | WA | (800) 772-1213 |
| PUYALLUP WA | SUITE A | 811 SOUTH HILL PARK DR | PUYALLUP | WA | (800) 772-1213 |
| CENTRALIA WA | STE 100 | 1821 COOKS HILL RD | CENTRALIA | WA | (800) 772-1213 |
| LYNNWOOD WA | SUITE 207 | 18905 33RD AVE W | LYNNWOOD | WA | (800) 772-1213 |
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
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