Hundreds of thousands of disabled Americans are waiting for decisions to be made on their Social Security Disability claims. The stark reality is that the majority of these individuals, roughly 60 percent, will eventually receive a Social Security Disability Benefits Denial.
There remains hope for claimants who receive such a decision through a process of appeals. The Social Security Administration (SSA) outlines four steps in making general appeals. They include:
▪ Filing- A claimant has 60 days from receiving a denial letter to file an appeal of the decision. The appeal must be made in writing. The only exception to this rule is if the denial was made for medical reasons, in which case, the appeal can be made online.
▪ Reevaluation- Upon receiving the appeal, the SSA will reexamine the case to ensure all needed information and documentation is present. They will then consider either overturning the denial or upholding the decision.
▪ Hearing- If the decision is upheld, a hearing will be scheduled where a judge will examine the evidence and issue a decision.
▪ Higher Court Appeals- If denied again, the case is heard before an appeals council makes its way to the courts for a final decision.
The Social Security Disability Lawyers with Newlin Disability recognize how confusing the appeals process can be. They encourage anyone with a denied Social Security Disability claim to discuss their case with an attorney immediately.
