What to Do if Your SSDI Claim is Denied

If you’re applying for disability benefits, chances are good that you need these payments to meet your many financial obligations. Ideally, your application will be approved, and you’ll start receiving benefits within one to two months, but that’s not always the case. You might be wondering what to do if your SSDI claim is denied. 

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides much-needed financial relief for people who meet certain qualification standards. Unfortunately, the application process is more difficult than many applicants expect. It’s important to know that a denial is not the end of the road. Not only are denials common, they can also be considered an opportunity to improve upon the case you’re making for SSDI benefits. 

If your application was denied, you have 60 days to request an appeal from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, before you begin the process, you should keep a few things in mind. Let’s discuss what to do if your SSDI claim is denied. 

Don’t Panic

Most initial applications for SSDI are denied. If you’re wondering what to do if your SSDI claim is denied, then know that several other disability recipients have experienced a denial, only to later be approved through appeal. 

Contact an SSDI Attorney

It’s challenging to find success in an SSDI appeal if you aren’t familiar with the process. SSDI attorneys have years of experience handling these cases, so they’ll be able to review your application and look for errors or ways to improve your chances of approval. 

Try to Determine Why Your Claim Was Denied

A denied application is an opportunity to improve the case you’ve made for benefits. When figuring out what to do if your SSDI claim is denied, you should look closely at your application. Are there any errors in your application? Is there any additional information you could include that would improve your chances for approval? For help finding answers to these questions, contact an SSDI attorney. 

Familiarizing Yourself with the SSDI Appeals Process

There are four levels to an SSDI appeal…

• Reconsideration - When your claim is denied for medical reasons, you can submit a request to have your application reviewed by someone who wasn’t involved in the first determination. If it’s possible to include any additional information, you should include it for reconsideration.
• Hearing by an administrative law judge - You can request a review by an administrative law judge. In most cases, the hearing will take place within 75 miles of your home. 
• Review by the Appeals Council - If an administrative law judge denies your application, you can request a review by the Appeals Council. 
• Federal Court review - If the Appeals Council denies your application, the last level of appeal is a federal court review. In this level of appeal, you can file a civil suit in a federal district court.

If your application is denied, you will receive a notification from the SSA. This letter will tell you which appeal level of appeal you should consider. 

Don’t Give Up Hope – Contact the Driscoll Salazar Disability Group Today

You might be frustrated by a denial, but you should always consider an appeal. Applying for SSDI can be a challenge for anyone, and it helps speak to someone familiar with the process. You have 60 days to begin an appeal, so don’t hesitate to contact the Driscoll Salazar Disability Group by calling 949-359-1370.

We’ve helped many clients with the appeals process, and we know what SSA is looking for when reviewing applications. In many cases, we identify an error in applications that can be fixed in appeal. We can also work with you to be sure that you are providing SSA with all the information they’ll need to determine your eligibility.

Contact the Driscoll Salazar Disability Group today to get started.