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Pekas Smith Reports SSDI Decision Times Fell 29 Days in One Year

SSDI Initial Decision Times Fell 29 Days Year-Over-Year, Pekas Smith Reports
  Phoenix, United States - November 13, 2026 / Pekas Smith: Arizona Disability Attorneys / 
  
Pekas Smith attorneys explain disability decision waits and when benefits become payable.
PHOENIX, Arizona, 11th Nov. Initial disability decisions averaged 188 days in August 2026, down from 217 days a year earlier, according to national data from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Reconsideration decisions averaged 212 days, compared to 239 days the prior year. Hearing-level waits shifted only slightly, from 279 days to 276 days, and continue to represent the longest average among the three stages tracked.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is the federal program that pays monthly benefits to individuals who cannot work due to a qualifying medical condition. Attorneys at Pekas Smith, an Arizona law firm, outline how long SSDI takes at each stage of the disability approval timeline. A claim may proceed to Appeals Council review and, in rare circumstances, to federal court.

StageAugust 2025August 2026
Initial decision217 days188 days
Reconsideration239 days212 days
Administrative Law Judge hearing279 days276 days

Source: SSA disability processing time, national average days to decision for disability claims, August 2025 and August 2026.
An SSA decision and the first benefit payment occur at separate points in the process, meaning national decision averages do not indicate when an individual claimant will receive benefits. When a claimant is approved for SSDI, entitlement generally begins in the sixth full month after the date SSA establishes as the disability onset, counting five full calendar months from that date. An exception applies to qualifying claims involving amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). SSDI benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they are due.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) operates under different eligibility and payment rules than SSDI. SSI benefits generally cannot cover any period before the first month after the later of the filing date or the date the claimant satisfies the eligibility requirements.
A state Disability Determination Services (DDS) office reviews the medical evidence and issues the initial decision on behalf of SSA. The office requests records from each treating provider, and a decision may be delayed until those records are received. Following a denial, a claimant may request reconsideration, which is the first stage of the appeals process. A written request must be submitted within 60 days of receiving the notice. SSA generally presumes receipt five days after the notice date unless the claimant demonstrates later receipt, and an extension may be available for good cause.
"A drop from 217 to 188 days is real progress for people waiting on a first decision," said Jeremy D. Pekas, Founding Partner at Pekas Smith. "Of the three stages shown, a hearing is still the longest average wait, and claimants who keep their medical records current are better prepared when that date arrives."
SSA and DDS letters specify response deadlines, and a missed deadline can slow a claim. Claimants may also submit records from all treating providers and monitor claim status through SSA's my Social Security online account.
About Pekas Smith
Pekas Smith is an Arizona law firm focused exclusively on Social Security Disability cases, including SSDI and SSI claims. The firm represents Arizona claimants from the initial application through Appeals Council review. Additional information is available at disabilitylawyerarizona.com, including details on how long an expedited SSDI claim takes.
     
  
       
Contact Information:
 Pekas Smith: Arizona Disability Attorneys
 
3030 N 3rd St #650 
 Phoenix, Arizona 85012
United States
 
 Jeremy Pekas
 +1-602-833-1696
 https://disabilitylawyerarizona.com

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Cooling On Demand Explains Refrigerant Rules for Broward AC Replacements

R-410A or R-454B? What Broward Homeowners Should Know Before Replacing Their AC
  Sunrise, United States - November 13, 2026 / Cooling On Demand Inc. / 
  
As more Broward County homeowners replace aging air conditioners, many are encountering unfamiliar terms on their quotes: R-454B, R-32, A2L and SEER2. Cooling On Demand Inc., a Florida Certified Air Conditioning Contractor based in Sunrise, is releasing plain-language guidance to help homeowners understand the federal refrigerant transition, what it means for repairing an older system, and how to compare replacement options with confidence.
The change comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Technology Transitions Rule under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. Since January 1, 2025, new residential air conditioners and heat pumps can no longer be manufactured with refrigerants that have a global warming potential above 700. R-410A, the refrigerant used in most home systems installed over the past 15 years, has a global warming potential of about 2,088 and no longer qualifies for newly manufactured equipment.
"Homeowners hear 'refrigerant ban' and assume their AC is suddenly illegal. It is not," said Daniel "Danny" Murcia, owner of Cooling On Demand. "Your R-410A system can be repaired and serviced for years. What has changed is what goes in when you replace it, and what it costs to keep recharging an old system that leaks. We want people to have the facts before they make a decision this big."
What changed, and what did not
The key points for South Florida homeowners:

Existing systems are fine. The rules apply to newly manufactured equipment. There is no recall, no forced replacement and no ban on servicing existing R-410A systems.
New systems use new refrigerants. Most major manufacturers now use R-454B, with a global warming potential of about 465, while some use R-32, at about 675. Both are classified as mildly flammable (ASHRAE class A2L), so new equipment includes factory leak-detection sensors and safety controls.
Some R-410A equipment is still being installed. In May 2026, the EPA finalized a rule removing the January 1, 2026, installation deadline for residential R-410A systems manufactured or imported before 2025. Contractors can install that remaining inventory until it runs out.
Conversions are not an option. An R-410A system cannot be converted to R-454B. The refrigerants require different compressor tolerances, expansion valves, operating pressures and oils, and A2L equipment needs leak-detection hardware.

Why recharging an older system is getting more expensive
With production of R-410A equipment ended and refrigerant supply under a federal phasedown, R-410A prices have been rising. A small top-off on a well-maintained system is one thing. A system that needs several pounds of refrigerant every season has a leak, and the cost of repeatedly recharging it now weighs more heavily in the repair-or-replace decision.
"If you are adding refrigerant every summer, that money is going straight out a leak," Murcia said. "On a newer system, we find and fix the leak. On a 12- or 14-year-old system that also needs a major part, it usually makes more sense to put that money toward a properly sized new system. We walk homeowners through both options with real numbers."
Florida's efficiency standard
Refrigerant is not the only rule that applies. Florida sits in the U.S. Department of Energy's Southeast region, where split-system central air conditioners installed since January 1, 2023, must meet a minimum of 14.3 SEER2 for systems under 45,000 BTU (roughly 3.5 tons) and 13.8 SEER2 for larger systems. SEER2 is a newer, tougher test than the older SEER rating, so a 14.3 SEER2 system is roughly equivalent to the old 15 SEER.
Because South Florida air conditioners run most of the year, efficiency above the minimum can pay off faster here than in milder climates. Cooling On Demand recommends homeowners compare the SEER2 rating, expected monthly operating cost and humidity control of each option, not just the purchase price.
Five questions to ask before signing a replacement quote
Cooling On Demand suggests homeowners ask every contractor:

Did you do a load calculation? A new system should be sized to the home, not copied from the old unit's label. An oversized system cools quickly but leaves the house humid.
Which refrigerant does this system use, and why? Homeowners should know whether they are buying R-454B, R-32 or remaining R-410A inventory, and what that means for future service.
What is the SEER2 rating? It should meet or beat Florida's minimum.
Who pulls the permit? Most AC replacements in Broward County require a permit and inspection. A licensed contractor handles the paperwork.
What is your license number? Florida requires a state-licensed air conditioning contractor for system replacement. Homeowners can verify any license at myfloridalicense.com.

How Cooling On Demand handles replacements
Every Cooling On Demand installation starts with a free in-home quote and an honest recommendation on whether repair or replacement makes more sense. The company measures the home and calculates the cooling load, explains equipment options in plain language, handles the permit and inspection, removes and disposes of the old equipment, installs to manufacturer specifications and Florida building code, and tests cooling performance, airflow, refrigerant charge and drainage before the job is complete. Technicians also set up the thermostat with the homeowner before leaving.
"Most people replace an air conditioner two or three times in their life, so they should not have to become experts overnight," Murcia said. "Our job is to explain it clearly, size it right and install it clean."
Availability
Cooling On Demand provides free in-home replacement quotes across Broward County and nearby Miami-Dade communities. Homeowners can call (954) 203-8426 or learn more about the company's AC installation process online.
About Cooling On Demand Inc.
Cooling On Demand Inc. is a Florida Certified Air Conditioning Contractor (License #CAC1822848) based in the Sunrise area of Broward County. Owner Daniel "Danny" Murcia and his team provide 24/7 air conditioning repair, preventive maintenance, new system installation, heating repair, storm and flood inspections, and UV air purification for homes in Sunrise, Plantation, Weston, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Southwest Ranches and surrounding Broward and Miami-Dade County communities. Homeowners can book service online at coolingondemand.com or call (954) 203-8426 any time, day or night.
     
  
       
Contact Information:
 Cooling On Demand Inc.
 
Sunrise 
 Sunrise, Florida 33325
United States
 
 Daniel Murcia
 +1-954-203-8426
 https://coolingondemand.com

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