Hudson Valley Disability Hearings Return to West Nyack—But Long Wait Times and denials may Loom for New SSDI Applicants

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Written By Jacky Writes

A Long-Awaited Win for Hudson Valley Residents

For the first time since spring, people in the Hudson Valley will once again have a place close to home for Social Security disability hearings. The West Nyack Hearing Office, located at 240 West Nyack Road, will begin holding hearings November 17, 2025, restoring in-person services after the closure of the White Plains office in May.

The reopening means residents of Rockland, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan, and Ulster counties will no longer have to travel hours for an in-person appeal. The facility—renovated and reopened for general SSA services in August—will now add space for Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) and hearing support staff.

According to the SSA’s official announcement, the West Nyack site “enhances accessibility and offers both in-person and remote hearing options,” allowing applicants to appear by phone, video, or face-to-face depending on need.

Walk-Ins Welcome

While the West Nyack office will now host disability hearings beginning November 17, 2025, it also continues to function as a Social Security field office open to the public. That means you can still walk in or make an appointment to handle regular Social Security business—such as applying for SSDI benefits, replacing a Social Security card, or getting help with your my Social Security account (forgot your password?). However, the hearing side of the office (OHO) is not open for walk-ins; hearings are by appointment only, and staff cannot answer case-specific appeal questions in person.

It’s a meaningful improvement for people already deep in the appeals process—but for new applicants just starting out, the road ahead remains steep.

State vs. Federal Offices: The differences for SSDI claims

It helps to know that not all Social Security disability offices handle the same part of your claim. In New York, the first two stages—your initial application and reconsideration appeal—are reviewed by the state-run Disability Determination Services (DDS). These DDS state examiners gather your medical evidence and decide whether you meet federal disability rules.

If you’re denied at both of those stages, your case then moves to a federal hearing office, run directly by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Hearings Operations (OHO). That’s where an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) reviews your case at a hearing—like the ones that will soon be held again in West Nyack.

Even though your records are reviewed at a different state DDS office, you can still start your SSDI claim or get certain types of help at the new West Nyack office.

A Welcome Fix for Appeals

The new hearing office in Hudson Valley primarily serves people appealing denied claims. If you’re appealing an SSDI claim, we highly recommend you contact an attorney to help you with your claim at this stage. Represented claimants historically fare better at hearings. You can read our guide on How to File for SSDI with an Attorney to learn more.

According to research by the National Bureau of Economic Research, legal representation increases the probability of initial approval by 23 percentage points. At the hearing stage, where 80% or more of claimants have representation, approval rates are significantly higher than at earlier stages.

Whether or not you have an attorney, you can learn more about the SSDI process to help get head start on gathering the evidence you’ll need. It’s going to be a long wait!

What New York SSDI Applicants Can Expect: The Numbers Behind the Wait

If you're applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) in New York, here’s what you need to know about wait times and benefits—and the troubling reason behind recent “improvements.” If you’re waiting for a disability hearing in NY, it can take 9-12 months to get a decision, according to SSA hearing reports.

The national picture shows three distinct waiting periods that add up fast for SSDI applicants:

1.​ Initial Application
The average processing time is now 209 days (about 7 months) to get your first yes or no, according to the latest September 2025 SSA data. That’s down from 229 days a year ago—just under a month faster. And, the majority of people who apply for SSDI are denied with the first application. More applicants are being rejected despite fewer people applying for benefits.

The Urban Institute reports a 7% decrease in SSDI applications, and the SSA reports the national backlog has dropped from 1.18 million to 885,000 pending claims. That said, the Urban Institute reports approval rates fell from 38.7% to 36.0%—meaning an estimated 61,000 fewer people were approved in 2025 than would have been at the previous year’s rate.

The timing of these changes raises questions about whether the processing speedup reflects fewer applications, improved service delivery, or a shift toward faster denials. Because applicants can be denied at the initial review stage but must proceed through multiple steps to receive approval, denial decisions typically process faster (and are easier) than approvals.

If you’d like to explore these atypical statistics more, the Urban Institute is investigating the disability claim backlog and claims by the SSA.

2. Reconsideration Stage:
The average processing time for the Reconsideration stage has almost doubled since 2014. The reconsideration phase takes an average of 213 days to process, according to 2023 SSA statistics. (It “only” took 108 days back in 2014.) The reconsideration phase is the first level of appeal in a disability claim. This stage takes place after your initial application is denied.

3. Hearing Before a Judge:
If you’re denied again and request a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), expect another 6-12 months until you receive a final decision, according to a 2025 AARP analysis of SSA statistics. SSA hearing time statistics for FY 2025 report NY decisions can take 9.3 to 12.7 months

Total Wait Time:
Add it all up, and you’re looking at nearly two years from your first application to a hearing decision.

New York SSDI applicants may face similar national wait times. If you have a Compassionate Allowance, your case may be expedited.

If You’re Approved:
The average monthly SSDI benefit for disabled workers in New York is $1,856, about $96 higher than the national average of $1,760—roughly $22,272 per year. However, benefits vary significantly by gender. Nationally, male disabled workers receive an average of $1,929.74 per month, while female disabled workers receive $1,565.13 per month—an 18.9% gap of $364.61 monthly ($4,375 annually). This disparity reflects the program's tie to earnings history, where lifetime wage gaps between men and women are built into the SSDI system.

The Hard Reality:
During those nearly two years you’re waiting, you’re expected to survive without a living wage income, since you can’t work above $1,620 per month (the 2025 Substantial Gainful Activity limit) while your claim is pending.

For many disabled New Yorkers, this creates an impossible financial situation—too sick to work, yet unable to access the benefits they’ve earned through years of contributions to Social Security. For those without family, friends, or community help, living below poverty level while disabled can be a life-threatening situation. And now, the odds of getting initially approved are worse than they were a year ago.

The Human Impact Behind the Numbers

Most disabled workers can't survive 14-24 months without income or health coverage. The system was already strained—and now it's breaking under new cuts.

Since April 2025, the SSA has eliminated 7,000 jobs (12% of its workforce), closed or consolidated regional offices, and cut the technology team in half. As of October, the agency began issuing additional reduction-in-force notices. Field offices have lost up to 50% of their staff, with experienced examiners leaving fastest. One SSA worker told NPR: "We really feel the brunt of the public that we serve and the chaos and confusion surrounding Social Security."

The result: backlogs are shrinking, but not because more people are getting approved. They're shrinking because fewer people are applying, more people are being denied, and critical staff are walking out the door.

Positive Developments Amid the Delays

It’s not all bad news. SSA modernization efforts have produced several genuine improvements:

  • Online access: Applications and medical evidence uploads available 24/7 through “my Social Security” accounts.

  • Virtual hearings: Now permanent and used in the majority of cases, virtual hearings also reduce transportation and traveling difficulties for the disabled.

  • Compassionate Allowances: 13 new conditions added in 2025 for faster review of severe cases.

Local Impact: The West Nyack Office Reopens After 5.5-Month Gap

The White Plains hearing office, which closed May 31, 2025, had been processing cases at an average of 291 days (9.7 months), according to FY 2025 SSA data through August 29, 2025. When the White Plains hearing office closed, its 2,000 pending cases were reassigned to distant offices—some as far as Connecticut or New Jersey. For claimants with mobility issues, that meant canceled hearings, higher travel costs, or switching to remote hearings.

Now, with West Nyack set to open, Hudson Valley residents once again have a local option for hearings—either in person or virtually. The change is especially welcome for claimants already in the appeals pipeline.

A Step Forward—But Not the Full Fix

West Nyack's reopening means Hudson Valley residents won't have to drive 24 to 135 miles for a hearing—a genuine victory for accessibility. But one hearing office cannot fix what's broken in the SSDI system. SSDI applicants still wait months for decisions. They still face a 36% approval rate. And they still navigate an agency losing 12% of its workforce to budget cuts and staff exodus. For many in the Hudson Valley too sick to work and unable to wait nearly two years for a final decision, the West Nyack office opens a door—but to a system that’s still fundamentally strained.

FAQ

Q: Where is the new hudson valley Social Security disability hearing office in West Nyack located, and what does it do?

A: The new West Nyack Hearing Office is located at 240 West Nyack Road, West Nyack, NY 10994.
Phone: (866) 755-4334
Fax: (833) 950-2378
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
(Source: SSA Office Locator)

This office is part of the Social Security Administration’s Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) and handles disability appeal hearings for residents of Rockland, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan, and Ulster counties.

It opens for hearings on November 17, 2025, restoring local access for Hudson Valley residents after the White Plains hearing office closed earlier this year.

Here’s your FAQ formatted perfectly for a Squarespace blog or FAQ block, ready to copy and paste.
It matches the tone, style, and formatting of your West Nyack FAQ for visual consistency.

Q: Where is the New York Disability Determination Services (DDS) office that handles initial SSDI applications, and how is it different from the West Nyack hearing office?

A: The New York Disability Determination Services (DDS) office that reviews initial SSDI and SSI applications is part of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).

Administered by: New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA)
Mailing Address: Division of Disability Determinations, P.O. Box 165, Albany, NY 12260-0165
Email: NY.DD.PC3.CORRES@ssa.gov
Agency Site: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/disability/

DDS is a state-run office that works under federal SSA rules and funding. It handles the first two stages of a disability claim:

  1. Initial Application Decision

  2. Reconsideration Appeal

DDS examiners and medical consultants review your medical records and work history to determine whether your condition meets the SSA’s definition of disability.

If DDS denies your reconsideration, your case then moves to the federal hearing office—such as the West Nyack Office of Hearings Operations (OHO)—where an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) will review your appeal.

In short:

  • DDS (Albany) decides initial and reconsideration claims.

  • West Nyack (OHO) handles appeal hearings after both DDS decisions are denied.

(Source: New York State OTDA – Division of Disability Determinations)

Q: How long does it currently take to get an SSDI decision?

A: According to 2025 SSA data, the average initial disability determination takes about 230 days (7.7 months) nationwide.

Chart of the average time it takes to process an initial SSDI claim 230 days Sept 2025

Source: Social Security Administration (Social Security Performance). Retrieved October 31, 2025 https://www.ssa.gov/ssa-performance

Q: Can I visit the new West Nyack Social Security office to get help with my benefits or application?

A: Yes. The West Nyack Social Security office at 240 West Nyack Road, West Nyack, NY 10994, is open to the public for general SSA services like applying for SSDI benefits, requesting replacement cards, updating information, or getting help with your my Social Security account.

Walk-ins are allowed during business hours (Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.), though scheduling an appointment can reduce wait time. For general questions or appointments, you can call (866) 755-4334 or visit the SSA Office Locator

References

Disclaimer:

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Consult with a qualified healthcare provider for any medical concerns or questions. Consult with a licensed attorney for legal advice.

AI Ethical Statement:

AI Ethical Statement: This article includes information sourced from government and reputable health websites, reputable academic journals, and non-profit organizations, and was generated with help from AI. A human author has substantially edited, arranged, and reviewed all content, exercising creative control over the final output. People and machines can make mistakes. Please contact us if you see a correction that needs to be made.




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