Depends on state and backlog. Many benefits to having a lawyer besides that they know the system. They know the judges!! Took me 6 months but it was a physical injury at work. So I had already had surgery + tests + recent dr. reports. Your attorney will also go over questions at the hearing. If he doesn't ask him to. For example..I know a person with kidney failure who was denied. The judge asked him how long he sat at his computer. He said 4 hours. He meant total off and on during the day but that's not what he said. The judge denied saying if he could sit for 4 hours before a computer at home, he could sit for 4 hours before a computer at work. Good luck.