In the state of Alaska social security disability cases take a significant amount of time and effort to win. On a national scale, only 32.1% of initial social security disability claims are awarded. In Alaska, that percentage is noticeably higher at 43.2%, but still supports the fact that more often than not, SSD cases are denied. If you apply for social security disability benefits in Alaska and your initial claim is denied, be aware that only 8.3% of reconsiderations are actually awarded. If both your initial disability claim and your appeal are denied, you can request that your case be heard by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) at the ODAR hearing office in Anchorage.
On average, it will take 253 days from the time you request your case be heard by an Anchorage ALJ to the time a final decision is made on your Alaska social security disability case. The average processing time nationally at the hearing level is 349 days. Alaska ALJs awarded disability benefits 28.3% of the time over the last year compared to 58.3% of cases that are awarded at the hearing level nationwide.
The case-by-case approval rate for your local hearing office will vary depending on the ALJ hearing your case. Below is a breakdown of the SSD approval rates for Alaska ODAR hearing offices compared to national rates:
| Hearing Office | Approval Rate | Processing Time in Days |
| Anchorage | 28.3% | 253 |
There are six ALJs serving in the Anchorage hearing office. One of the main benefits of there being a single ODAR hearing office is that your AK disability attorney will likely know one judge or even all six of the ALJs rather well and will be able to present a persuasive disability case on your behalf. Click on the city closest to you for more information on hiring an Alaska social security disability attorney in your area:
If you would like to learn more about how an Alaska disability attorney can help you with your SSD case, simply complete the free evaluation form on this site to arrange your initial consultation. Initial consultations are always free and you will not have to pay any attorney fees unless your disability lawyer is able to win your case.
