It is still taking 18 to 24 months to get a Social Security Disability hearing in Central Illinois.
Nothing is going to speed this up short of more judges and support staff.
Social Security schedules the hearings and tells your lawyer the date to show up.
This is unlike many other court proceedings where the parties tell the judge when they are ready for trial.
Your attorney cannot get you an earlier date.
Sometimes your congressperson or United States Senator can ask for an expedited hearing. This may or may not speed up your hearing. It just depends on what the judge wants to do. I have also seen this back fire. In other words, the judge gets mad and you get an early hearing. However, he punishes you for butting in line.