Janet had been waiting for months. It was hard, especially since she was also dealing with a debilitating disease. She could not work, and her bills just kept piling up. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits were her best chance of survival. Then, she received a letter and learned that Social Security had denied her request for SSDI benefits. Janet didn’t give up. Instead, she started trying to figure out what to do. The following information might help Janet and the many other people who don’t make the cut.
If Social Security denied your application, you are not alone.
You may feel like Social Security is giving everyone benefits except for you. In fact, Social Security denies a majority of first-time requests for SSDI benefits.
Some applications are denied for medical reasons. Basically, Social Security staff do not feel there is enough proof that you have a disabling medical condition.
Other requests for SSDI benefits are denied because of technical reasons. For instance, you might forget to attach supplemental documents or fail to complete the form correctly.
A California SSDI attorney can help you complete your application as correctly as possible. If Social Security denied your claim even with an attorney’s help, at least your attorney will be able to move on to the next step.
What happens after the rejection?
Social Security will send you a letter notifying you that it rejected your request for SSDI benefits. More importantly, the letter will tell you why Social Security denied your request and what you should do next.
It is critical that you read this letter carefully, then share it with your attorney. Your quest for benefits does not have to end here.
Yes, Social Security denied your request. But you do have options.
Your disability lawyer can discuss your options. Generally, the appeal process goes as follows:
First, you will submit a Request for Reconsideration. Social Security staff will review your application to see if they made an error.
Next, you could ask for an administrative law judge hearing if Social Security denied your request. Many appeals are approved, but you can move to the next step if necessary.
The next step involves asking the Appeals Council to review your request for SSDI benefits. If the Appeals Council denies your request, there’s one final step.
You can file a lawsuit in the United States District Court asking a judge to review your case. The judge may approve your claim or send it back to Social Security for additional consideration.
If Social Security Denied Your Request for SSDI Benefits, Give Us a Call.
As we mentioned above, many first-time claims are denied. When going through the appeal process, it helps to have someone in your corner. The attorneys at The Law Offices of Martin Taller have the experience and ability to take on your case. For a free consultation, call us at 714-385-8100. We assist clients throughout Southern California from our home office in Anaheim.
