Feeling stuck after getting denied SSDI benefits? Don’t lose hope. Start by reading your denial letter from top to bottom. Look for the reason(s) Social Security gave for the denial and check your deadline to appeal. This letter holds the key to your next move. A disability lawyer can help you review your letter, determine what went wrong, and decide what to do next. They can also collect stronger medical records, fix any paperwork problems, and help you appeal the denial.
Common Reasons SSDI Claims Get Denied
Social Security denies a lot of first-time SSDI applications. These denials don’t always mean an applicant did something wrong. In many cases, the SSA just didn’t get enough details to make a decision. Before you file an appeal, you should take time to understand why your claim didn’t go through. Here are some of the most common reasons why people receive SSDI denials:
- Not enough medical evidence
- Missed deadlines or incomplete paperwork
- Income above the allowable limits
- Failure to follow through on medical treatment
- Missed appointments for consultative exams
- Your condition won’t last long enough
- You can still do past work or adjust to other types of work
- Drug or alcohol use affecting your condition
- Prior denials with no new evidence
- Lack of recent work history
The SSDI Appeals Process
If Social Security denies your SSDI application, you have the right to appeal. The appeals process includes four main steps. You don’t need to complete every stage—if you win at any point, the process ends there. However, if you keep getting denied, you can move on to the next level. Below are the four main stages of the SSDI appeals process and what you can expect at each one:
- Reconsideration: At this stage, someone at the SSA who didn’t handle your claim the first time around will review your application. You have 60 days from the date of your denial to file a request for reconsideration. You can send new medical records, updated work history, or anything else that supports your case.
- Hearing Before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ): If the SSA denies your claim upon reconsideration, you can ask for a hearing with an ALJ. At the hearing, you can speak about your condition, and the judge may ask questions. You still have 60 days to request a hearing after a reconsideration denial.
- Appeals Council Review: If the ALJ also denies your claim, you can ask the Appeals Council to take another look. This council checks to see whether the judge made any mistakes or missed any key facts. They might agree with the judge, send the case back for another hearing, or overturn the decision. Again, you have 60 days to file this request.
- Federal Court Lawsuit: If you still don’t get approved, your last option is to file a lawsuit in federal court. This step takes the case out of the SSA system. Like in the earlier stages of the appeals process, you must file your lawsuit within 60 days of the last denial. The federal court will review the record and decide whether the SSA followed the law.
Do You Need a Disability Lawyer to Appeal?
You aren’t required to hire a lawyer to appeal your SSDI denial, but working with an attorney is highly recommended. A lawyer can help you understand what went wrong with your initial application and guide you through the appeal process. They can gather medical records, fill out paperwork, and prepare you for your hearing. Many disability lawyers, including those at Wambach Disability Law, won’t charge anything upfront to handle your appeal. Instead, they only accept legal fees if you win your case. If you feel overwhelmed or unsure about how to move forward, you can speak with a lawyer to gain clarity.
Contact an Experienced Disability Attorney
Still have questions about your SSDI denial or the appeals process? Contact Wambach Disability Law to discuss your situation and plan out your next steps. You don’t pay anything for your initial consultation, and you can ask as many questions as you need.