To apply for SSI benefits based on disability, a person must first make a claim or fill out an application. You can do this by contacting the Social Security office, either by phone or by visiting a local office or, in some cases, online. It’s probably better to call first for an appointment. You can arrange for a phone interview rather than an interview conducted in-person, if you want. Interviewing over the phone is typically more convenient than travelling to the Social Security office. How long a Social Security disability case takes to decide depends on many factors, such as how many cases a particular examiner has and how long it takes an examiner to gather a claimant’s medical information. Consequently, a claim may take as little as a month, or as long as several months. Typically, it takes three to six months.