How long does it take receive disability payments?

Question

How long does it take on average, from the initial application to the receipt of disability payments from the social security administration?

Answer 1

My neighbor applied due to a heart condition, two years later she died and still SSD was denied.  Every case is different.  

Answer 2

Forever!!  No Joke

Answer 3

The 3 people I have personal knowledge of all were less than 6 months from initial application to receipt of their first checks.  My son's was just over 4 months from application to approval and his first check.  He applied in November and got his first check the following March.

Every case stands on its own merit.  Some are pretty obvious and the approval process is relatively quick.  I have heard of some cases that took well over a year however but that is all hearsay form my perspective.