Appealing the Denial of a Social Security Disability Insurance Claim

If your application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) has been denied, you can file an appeal with the Social Security Administration (SSA).

There are four levels of appeal that may be pursued in response to the denial of an SSDI claim:

When you receive a denial notice from the SSA it will include a statement about your medical condition, along with information regarding your right to appeal. First, you must contact your local field office and request a complete review of the claim. This review is conducted by a medical consultant and claims examiner who had nothing to do with the original claim denial. If your claim is denied for a second time, you will receive another denial letter and an explanation of the SSA’s decision.

To continue your pursuit of benefits, you may request a hearing by an administrative law judge (ALJ) within 60 days of your claim denial. ALJs are attorneys employed by the SSA’s Office of Hearings Operations, and they have the authority to uphold or overturn the denial or termination of disability benefits.

If the ALJ upholds the denial of your SSDI claim, you can request a review by the Appeals Council. The Appeals Council chooses cases for review at random, and has the discretion to approve, deny, or dismiss your review request. The review is unlikely to be granted unless there is evidence that the ALJ:

●     Made an error of law.

●     Is guilty of an abuse of discretion.

●     Reached a decision that is not supported by substantial evidence.

●     Made serious procedural mistakes.

The final step in the appeal process involves filing a lawsuit in U.S. district court. Federal judges rarely reverse ALJ or Appeals Council decisions, but they frequently remand (send back) cases to the SSA. This typically happens when a judge cites the SSA’s failure to give adequate consideration to a treating physician’s opinion, account for pain or other symptoms, or ask for assessments of abilities from treating doctors.

Related Links: Who's Eligible for Social Security Disability Benefits? What's the Listing of Impairments in a Social Security Disability Insurance Case? Can I Get Social Security Disability Benefits If My Condition Isn't Listed in the Blue Book?