**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**Baltimore, MD - May 4, 2026** - Maryland Social Security Disability Insurance applicants are waiting an average of 381 days for an initial decision, putting the state among the three slowest in the country alongside South Carolina and Georgia. The figures, drawn from SSA processing data, are published in a new state profile from Disability Exchange (https://disabilityexchange.org/states/maryland/), an independent benefits research site.

The 381-day average runs 154 days above the national average of 227 days. That's more than five extra months of waiting for Maryland's 690,463 residents living with a disability.

"Maryland is one of those states where the front-end numbers actually look great, but the wait can break a household before the check shows up," said the team at Disability Exchange. "If you're applying here, the math is simple. Your odds are better than most places, but you've got to plan for over a year before you'll know."

The approval picture is what makes Maryland unusual. The state's initial DDS approval rate sits at 45%, well above the national 38%. Reconsideration runs at 19%, stronger than the typical 14% national figure. At the hearing stage, Maryland ALJs approve 59% of cases. Baltimore and DC metro hearing offices typically schedule hearings 10 to 14 months out.

Maryland's 11.4% disability rate ranks 45th nationally and runs 1.6 percentage points below the national average of 13.0%. Ambulatory difficulty is the most common disability type, affecting 331,046 residents (5.8%), followed by cognitive difficulty at 270,847 residents (4.7%).

Maryland's poverty rate is 6.3%, well below the national average of 8.7%, and unemployment sits at 3.3%. Higher historical earnings can help applicants meet SSDI's work-credit threshold, but the substantial gainful activity rules ($1,690 per month in 2026 for non-blind applicants and $2,830 per month for blind applicants) cut sharper for workers attempting reduced-hour returns to work.

"The Maryland data is a reminder that approval rates and wait times aren't the same conversation," said the team at Disability Exchange. "This state gets a lot of cases right at the initial level, and that saves people from a multi-year appeal. But the 381-day clock is real. If you're filing in Maryland, you need a financial bridge to cover the year-plus wait."

The state's population concentration in the Baltimore-DC corridor contributes to the backlog. The SSA's national backlog has been falling, dropping 33% from June 2024 to February 2026, and the agency's Medical Continuing Disability Review shift announced in March 2026 is expected to free state DDS units to focus on initial and reconsideration claims. Maryland claimants with Compassionate Allowances conditions, such as ALS or pancreatic cancer, can see decisions in weeks. The 2026 federal attorney fee cap for SSDI cases is $9,200 or 25% of past-due benefits, whichever is lower.

Maryland residents researching benefits can review the full state profile at https://disabilityexchange.org/states/maryland/ or use the free 2-minute eligibility tool at https://disabilityexchange.org/qualify/ on the homepage.

The Disability Exchange Maryland profile draws on the most recent SSA processing data, U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 figures, and SSA's FY2024 Agency Financial Report. The site is privately owned and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration.

About Disability Exchange: Disability Exchange is an independent disability benefits research site providing state-by-state data, application guidance, and free eligibility tools. The site covers all 50 states plus DC and is updated continuously with the latest SSA performance and policy data.

Media Contact:
Anthony Albert
Benefits Research Director
Disability Exchange
[email protected]
https://disabilityexchange.org

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