Fighting To Get You The
Disability Benefits You Need
- Home
- Appealing A Denial
How To Appeal A Social Security Disability Application Denial
If the SSA denied your claim for benefits, you can request a Social Security Disability appeal. However, appeals can be complex and often involve administrative hearings and even a court appearance. You shouldn’t have to deal with this alone. We understand the hardships that come with disabilities and the urgency of receiving the benefits you need to take care of yourself.
A disability attorney can guide you through the process and help you obtain the best outcome possible. For an attorney with decades of success in his experience as a disability attorney, call attorney Gary Brown at Disability Attorney Services to learn more about how he can help you with the appeals process. We want to help you as soon as possible, which is why we offer our clients free initial consultations.
Four Levels Of A Social Security Disability Appeal
If your disability claim is denied, you will receive a notice of denial in the mail from the SSA. That notice will provide you with instructions about how to file a Social Security Disability appeal. It will also inform you of important deadlines. There are four levels of appeal:
- Request for reconsideration
- Administrative law judge hearing
- Review by the Appeals Council
- Review by the federal court
Social Security Disability Appeal Levels
You have 60 days from the date of your initial denial to submit a request for reconsideration. A few states skip this step, but North Carolina is not one of them. In North Carolina, you would request a reconsideration of your initial claim after a denial.
You can request a reconsideration online through the SSA’s website. You may also file by mail with the forms that appear on the SSA website. If you have been seen by your doctor since your claim was denied or have additional information, you should include that with your Social Security Disability appeal.
Reconsideration of your claim is basically another review that takes place at the Disability Determination Services (DDS). However, the second review is completed by a medical consultant and claims examiner who did not take part in the initial claim decision. They will review all your medical and vocational information and anything you submit along with your Social Security Disability appeal documents.
Approximately 5 to 10% of DDS examiners approve initial claims upon reconsideration. You may also request reconsideration of a decision in a continuing disability claim.
It is best to work with a skilled attorney who can make sure you submit all the necessary information for your Social Security Disability appeal.
If your request for reconsideration is denied, then you will have 60 days from that denial to request a hearing as the next step in the Social Security Disability appeal. Your hearing will take place at an SSA location that is generally within 75 miles of your home, and your attorney can be with you to speak on your behalf.
The administrative law judge (ALJ) at your hearing will review the medical and vocational documents that you have submitted and ask you questions. You may have an opportunity to explain exactly how your conditions affect you.
ALJs grant around 50% of all claims that come to them through a Social Security Disability appeal.
If the ALJ denies your claim, then you may submit a Social Security Disability appeal to an SSA Appeals Council. The Appeals Council does not hear every case that is requested of them. Instead, they select those cases where it can be shown that:
- The ALJ abused their discretion.
- The decision made by the ALJ is not supported by the majority of the evidence.
- There is a significant policy or procedural issue.
The Appeals Council rarely approves claims that have been submitted through a Social Security Disability appeal. In fact, only 2 to 3% of cases are approved by the Appeals Council.
It’s important to work with a disability attorney at this level because you will need to submit a brief that makes legal arguments and summarizes your case. You will want to point out the facts that are most complementary to your case in an attempt to achieve an approval of your claim.
If your Social Security Disability appeal does not prevail at the Appeals Council level, or if your appeal is declined, then you may have to appeal to a U.S. District Court. At the court level, you will submit a lawsuit against the SSA that claims it has wrongfully denied your Social Security Disability appeal. This level can be extremely difficult and time-consuming.
Social Security Disability appeal cases are heard in federal court by actual judges but not juries. You will submit all your evidence, including information you’ve provided to the SSA. You will also submit a brief that makes legal arguments about why the decisions denying your claim are incorrect.
Many Social Security Disability appeals are approved at the federal court level; however, this is a step that most people avoid. It can be costly and time-consuming to take a case to federal court. In fact, only 1% of SSD claimants go to federal court with their appeals.
Get In Touch Today!
Contact A Charlotte, North Carolina, Disability Attorney For Help With Your Social Security Disability Appeal
If your claim has been denied, don’t give up. Appeal the decision. While appeals are often successful at lower levels, it may be necessary to take your case to federal court. You need an attorney who is not afraid to go to court for you.
For your free initial consultation, contact attorney Gary Brown at Disability Attorney Services today and learn more about how we can help.
Get Your
FREE CASE EVALUATION
There are never any fees for you unless we recover benefits. Call us today!
REQUEST A FREE CASE EVALUATION
