 SSDRC What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? How do you Win Benefits under Social Security Disability or SSI? If I am determined disabled, how far back will Social Security pay benefits? How do you prove your disability case if you have a mental condition? What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits Common Mistakes after Receiving a Denial of Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits How to File for Disability - Tips for Filing If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare? How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid? Social Security Disability SSI Criteria and the Evaluation Process How long does it take to be approved for SSI or Social Security disability? What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability SSI and Fibromyalgia Social Security Disability SSI and Degenerative Disc Disease Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression? Answers to questions about SSD and SSI disability What Disabilities Qualify for SSI and Social Security Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability Status Social Security Disability Tips — how a claim gets worked on Social Security Disability, SSI Disability - Terms, Definitions, Concepts |
What Can You Do to Make Sure Your Social Security Disability Reconsideration Gets Approved?How to prove you are disabled and win disability benefits There are a few things an individual can do to help the chances of their disability claim being approved at the reconsideration appeal level. One of the most important things an individual can do to improve the odds of the request for reconsideration being approved is to file the appeal in a timely manner. This might seem obvious, of course, but a significant percentage of claimants who have been denied on an initial disability application do, for whatever reason, fail to meet the requisite appeal deadline. Social Security allows a sixty-five day appeal period for individuals who have their initial disability claim denied. To file your social security disability appeal or SSI disability appeal, you need to request your reconsideration appeal paperwork, or file your reconsideration appeal online. No matter how you file your reconsideration, make sure that you complete either the paper form 3441, or the online version of the 3441, and return signed and dated form 827 medical release forms to your local Social Security office by the sixty-fifth day. This means the reconsideration must be in your local Social Security office, not just postmarked on that date to be considered timely. If Social Security does not receive the reconsideration appeal timely, there is a chance your reconsideration appeal will be denied for late filing. Additionally, you should thoroughly complete your 3441; meaning, provide all information that is asked for. Be sure to include all relevant medical treatment sources and their contact information to the best of your ability. The form also includes questions about how your condition or conditions impact your daily activities. Remember, a completed form 3441 gives the disability examiner making your disability decision a better picture of how your condition limits your daily life, including your ability to work. If you feel like you cannot handle all the paperwork, or even the online process, of your reconsideration appeal, you should consider obtaining the services of a Social Security disability representative to help you file your reconsideration. A disability representative can be a non-attorney representative or a social security attorney. The representative will take care of filing all of your appeals and even represent you should your disability claim have to go to a disability hearing before an administrative law judge. Lastly, no matter who files your reconsideration appeal, or any other appeal for that matter (such as a request for a disability hearing), make sure that any information requested by Social Security is provided. Disability claims are routinely denied for failure to cooperate if an individual does not provide Social Security with the necessary information needed for them to make the disability determination. 
Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page Individual Questions and Answers SSD and SSI are Federal Programs The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here: Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials |