when denied desability is it better to appeal alone or with a lawyer

by Herta Franecki 9 min read

If your initial application for Social Security disability benefits has been denied, it may be a good time to talk to a lawyer. If your application for disability has been denied and you intend to appeal, you can either file a reconsideration appeal on your own, or find a claims representative to do this for you.

Full Answer

Should I appeal or reapply after a SSA disability denial?

Rest assured, you’re not alone. The SSA reports that on average, 69% of Social Security disability benefit claims get denied. That means less than 2 in 5 people who apply actually receive SSD benefits. It’s important to act quickly after your denial, since waiting too long means you cannot appeal the SSA’s decision.

Should I appeal my disability decision or start over?

This is one reason why it can be a good idea to get a lawyer before you file an appeal--a good disability lawyer will file all appeal paperwork for you on time. If You Want Help, Get it Early On If you do decide to hire a disability attorney or non-attorney rep for your reconsideration appeal, or for a disability hearing, don't put this task off until it's too late for the lawyer to be of any real …

Should I hire a lawyer for my disability appeal hearing?

Sep 25, 2020 · The odds of having your initial claim denied are great, though outcomes may improve when appeals are pursued. Especially when reaching the ALJ stage of appeals – the judge has more leeway in making decisions on claims than the state medical examiners who initially review claims. When You May Want to Start a New Claim

How do I appeal a decision that denies my benefits?

The advantage to hiring an lawyer at the reconsideration stage rather than waiting until the hearing stage is that you could get an approval six months to a year earlier than if you wait for a hearing. If you lose the reconsideration, you should definitely consider hiring a …

What are the chances of winning a disability reconsideration?

On average, the chance of approval at the Reconsideration level is only 13 percent. This means that only in 13 percent of the cases that are originally denied, DDS reverses the denial into an approval. The rest are denied a second time.Feb 18, 2020

Should I appeal my SSDI denial?

Generally, it's a better idea to appeal the decision in your current claim rather than filing a new claim, because you have a better chance of getting approved for benefits after having a hearing, but for more information, see Nolo's article on deciding whether to appeal a disability denial.

What can I do if my disability is denied?

If we recently denied your disability claim for medical reasons, you can request an appeal online. A reconsideration is a complete review of your claim by someone who did not take part in the first determination. We will look at all the evidence submitted used in the original determination, plus any new evidence.

How long does reconsideration take for SSDI?

between three to five monthsOn average, it will take between three to five months to complete the Social Security Disability reconsideration process and receive this letter of decision. Here are some tips on how you can get your reconsideration request approved.

Can an ALJ decision be overturned?

ALJ decisions are not binding legal precedent. Courts or federal agencies can overturn their decisions under certain circumstances such as where those decisions are unsupported by substantial evidence in the record.Nov 5, 2020

How often is a fully favorable decision overturned?

Usually cases are reviewed every three years; but some cases are reviewed more often. Sometimes the decision will direct the Social Security Administration to conduct a review at a certain time. Often the Notice of Award will tell you when to expect a review.

Is it normal to be denied disability first time?

Home » Frequently Asked Questions » Does Social Security Disability Deny Everyone the First Time They Apply? No, the Social Security Administration (SSA) does not deny everyone the first time they apply.

Why do disability claims get denied?

Here are some common leading reasons claims are often denied: Lack of medical evidence. Prior denials. Too much earnings.

Why did I get denied for SSDI?

You Earn Too Much Income For SSDI, which is the benefit program for workers who have paid into the Social Security system over multiple years, one of the most basic reasons you could be denied benefits is that, when you apply, you are working above the limit where it is considered "substantial gainful activity" (SGA).

Do denied SSDI claims go to quality review?

Cases are pulled at random to be reviewed by the Disability Quality Branch. These claims include Social Security Disability claims which have been accepted and claims which have been denied. Roughly one in 100 claims is selected to be reviewed by the Disability Quality Branch.

Who makes the final decision on Social Security Disability?

the Disability Determination Services (DDS)An applicant can receive payments for up to 6 months while the Disability Determination Services (DDS) reviews the claim and makes the final decision.

Are mandatory reconsiderations ever successful?

The Government's figure for the mandatory reconsideration success rate is under 20%. That is for any additional points being scored, never mind getting to the points that persons should have scored.

What is the second appeal for disability?

This means you will likely have to file a second appeal. The second appeal is decided by a federal administrative law judge (ALJ) at a disability hearing, and before your hearing you should absolutely have legal counsel. (Here's how a lawyer will help you at the hearing .)

How long does it take to appeal a Social Security denial?

Social Security allows 60 days from the date of denial (plus 5 days grace for mailing time) for an appeal to be at the Social Security office.

What to do if your Social Security disability is denied?

If your initial application for Social Security disability benefits has been denied, it may be a good time to talk to a lawyer. If your application for disability has been denied and you intend to appeal, you can either file a reconsideration appeal on your own, or find a claims representative to do this for you.

How long does it take to get a reconsideration from Social Security?

A surprising number of disability claimants miss this deadline; they make the mistake of thinking the deadline is that their request for reconsideration has to be postmarked within 60 days from when they receive their notice of denial. It actually has to be in the Social Security office, not postmarked, within 65 days from the date stamped in ...

How long do you have to appeal a denial?

In most cases, you only have 60 days to appeal the initial decision, so if you miss this time limit, you need to file a new claim to pursue benefits. You have appealed your initial claim but have received a denial at the ALJ (administrative law judge) level of appeals.

How to appeal a disability claim?

Generally, the best solution for many applicants is to appeal after their disability claim has been denied. The key advantages of doing so include: 1 Avoid adding extra time to the claim. The disability appeals process can take up to two years or more to settle. If you file a new claim when facing a denial, you may be adding more time, as your new claim may have the same issues and also be denied after filing. 2 The SSA does not have to reopen prior applications. Reopening a prior claim is done at the SSA’s discretion. If you file a new claim, you may not be able to receive backpay for the time you have waited since originally filing, even if you qualified as disabled. 3 If your first claim was denied, the SSA will likely deny your second claim as well, therefore you will still need to pursue an appeal to access benefits. If the same reviewer is assigned your second claim, he or she is likely to deny the new claim if it presents the same information. Appealing puts a fresh pair of eyes on your claim, which may be what is needed for approval. 4 The odds of having your initial claim denied are great, though outcomes may improve when appeals are pursued. Especially when reaching the ALJ stage of appeals – the judge has more leeway in making decisions on claims than the state medical examiners who initially review claims.

What to do if SSA denied disability?

If the SSA has denied your disability claim, you have options. Our legal team at Sigman Janssen is here to help you determine the right path and pursue your claim for the benefits you may be eligible for.

Can I reopen my SSA claim?

If you file a new claim when facing a denial, you may be adding more time, as your new claim may have the same issues and also be denied after filing. The SSA does not have to reopen prior applications. Reopening a prior claim is done at the SSA’s discretion. If you file a new claim, you may not be able to receive backpay for ...

How to appeal a disability claim?

Mr. Ortiz and his staff offer support and advice to clients after a claim is denied and throughout the appeal process. Here are the most important things he will do to help with appealing disability claims: 1 Review and understand the reasoning behind your long-term disability claim denial. 2 Acquire missing medical records and evidence that supports your claim to include with your appeal letter. 3 Obtain opinions written by your treating doctors concerning your specific impairments resulting from your injury or illness. 4 Complete the appeals paperwork. 5 File your LTD claim appeal within the required time limits.

What to do if disability claim is denied?

If your disability insurance claim has been denied you should contact us right away. We will help you understand why your claim was denied and what you need to do moving forward. While there are no guarantees that the appeal of your claim will be approved on the first try, we will work diligently to help you prepare an appeal that is clear, concise, and complete with all necessary medical documents. We will keep you informed regarding the status of your claim for the duration of the attorney-client relationship and will answer any questions you may have along the way.

What is a medical source statement?

The doctor should specifically identify your diagnoses, your resulting impairments, and how the impairments affect your daily activities.

What is an insurance adjuster?

Insurance company adjusters are trained on how to deny claims. They are much more familiar with the application and appeal process. Insurance companies will not hesitate to use your unfamiliarity with the disability claims process against you.

Can you give up if you are denied a disability?

You should not give up if your claim for long term disability (LTD) benefits is denied. It is not unusual for an insurance company to deny disability claims, and most long term disability insurance policies require one or two internal administrative appeals. It may seem unlikely that the same insurance company that denied your claim will suddenly change its mind and approve you on appeal.

What happens when you appeal a decision?

While the chances of being denied are huge with your initial application, the odds of a favorable outcome improve greatly if you appeal the decision.

How long do you have to appeal a disability claim?

This is a common problem for disability claimants. You usually have about 60 days to appeal. If, for some reason, you miss this deadline, you will have to start over. An administrative law judge (ALJ) denies your claim.

How to appeal a Social Security disability decision?

To begin your appeal, you can call your local Social Security field office and tell them that you want to appeal a decision that denied or terminated your benefits. They will send you the proper forms and tell you where to mail the paperwork once you've filled it out. The form for getting a reconsideration is Request for Reconsideration, Form SSA-561. The form for getting an appeal hearing is Request for Hearing by Administrative Law Judge, Form HA-501. You can also start your appeal online. To learn more about beginning your appeal, see Nolo's article Social Security Disability: Five Levels of Appeal.

How long does it take to appeal a disability claim?

You must appeal in writing within 60 days ...

Who can help with Social Security appeal?

Some people handle their own Social Security appeal. But you can appoint a lawyer, a friend, or someone else (called your "authorized representative") to help you. The SSA will work with your representative just as it would work with you.

What happens if you appeal a disability claim?

If you appeal your case after receiving a denial, the time frame for a new disability claim decision will be determined by which level of appeal your case is at. The reconsideration appeal, the first appeal, involves a review of your initial disability claim denial by a disability examiner who was not a part of the original decision. All the medical evidence from your initial disability claim and any new medical evidence provided with your reconsideration appeal will be evaluated.

What is reconsideration appeal?

The reconsideration appeal, the first appeal, involves a review of your initial disability claim denial by a disability examiner who was not a part of the original decision. All the medical evidence from your initial disability claim and any new medical evidence provided with your reconsideration appeal will be evaluated.