SSDI Appeals Guide
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SSDI Appeals in Illinois

Your guide to filing an SSDI appeal in Illinois — ALJ hearing office, wait times, state resources, and step-by-step process.

ALJ Hearing Office
Chicago ODAR (multiple), Orland Park ODAR, Springfield ODAR
Average Wait Time
14–19 months
State SSI Supplement
Illinois provides a state supplement to SSI recipients.
Denied in Illinois?
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Disability in Illinois

Illinois has over 500,000 SSDI recipients, one of the largest caseloads in the Midwest.

Illinois is the sixth most populous state with a significant SSDI caseload concentrated in the Chicago metropolitan area. The SSA operates multiple ODAR offices in the Chicago area plus a Springfield office for downstate Illinois.

Illinois ALJ Hearing Offices

  • Chicagoland: Chicago ODAR (downtown), Orland Park ODAR (south suburbs)
  • Central/Southern Illinois: Springfield ODAR

Filing in Illinois

  1. Apply online at ssa.gov or visit a local Social Security office.
  2. Initial decision: Illinois DHS Bureau of Disability Determination Services processes initial applications.
  3. Reconsideration: File within 60 days of denial.
  4. ALJ Hearing: Assigned to ODAR based on your ZIP code. Average wait: 14–19 months.
  5. Appeals Council and Federal Court (U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Central, or Southern District of Illinois) if needed.

Talk to a Disability Attorney — Free Consultation

SSDI attorneys in Illinois work on contingency — you pay nothing unless you win. Fees are capped at 25% of back pay (maximum $9,200 in 2025).

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