Arizona's Social Security disability claims are processed at the initial stage by the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) Disability Determination Services (DDS) unit, which operates under contract with the federal Social Security Administration to evaluate SSDI and SSI applications. Initial approval rates in Arizona track national averages — approximately 25–30% of initial applications are approved — making the appeals process the standard path to benefits for most Arizona claimants.

Claimants denied at the initial and reconsideration stages may request a hearing before a Social Security Administration administrative law judge. ALJ hearing offices serving Arizona are located in Phoenix and Tucson, with the Phoenix office handling the greater volume of cases from the heavily populated Maricopa County metro area. Hearing wait times in Arizona have varied from approximately 12 to 18 months depending on the office and current caseload — claimants should engage an attorney early to ensure the record is properly developed through the DDS review and before the ALJ.