How do I request a social security disability hearing - How do I file?

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

The social security disability hearing is the second appeal in the SSA disability system. You may request the hearing only if you have been denied on a request for reconsideration, which is the first appeal level.

Reconsideration appeals are overwhelmingly denied by disability examiners; generally, more than eighty percent. Therefore, if you file a claim for disability benefits and receive a denial on your initial claim--i.e. your disability application--you can be relatively certain that you will need, at some point, to file a request for a hearing (because as we said, most claims are also denied on the first appeal, which is the reconsideration).

Because being denied on a disability application usually necessitates a disability hearing "further down the road", it is often practical to get representation on a disability claim not long after the first denial notice (officially known as a notice of disapproved claim) has been received. This is because going to a disability hearing unrepresented will significantly decrease the chances of winning the claim.

How do I request, or file for, a social security disability hearing?

You may file a request for a disability hearing online, or by contacting your local social security office over the phone or in person, or, if you have a disability attorney, that individual will file and submit the necessary paperwork as well as send you copies of what has been submitted. Regardless of whether the appeal is done in person or otherwise, it will involve two basic forms. One is the Appeal Request form (Request for Hearing by Administrative Law Judge - Form HA-501). The other is the disability report form (form SSA-3441).

In completing these forms, you should have available to you the following information:

1. Your contact information, including your address and phone number.

2. The contact information of your disability lawyer if you are, in fact, represented.

3. Your prior decision notice. This would be the denial notice that resulted from your "request for reconsideration" appeal.

Other forms that will need to be completed will include a form regarding your recent medical treatment (HA-4631), a form regarding your medications (HA-4632), and possibly a work background form if you have engaged in any additional work activity since your claim began (HA-4633), and, lastly, an appointment of representative form (form SSA-1696) if you have representation.

Additional information at:

Speeding up the Request for a Social Security Hearing - Documentation that is needed

Requesting a Social Security Hearing when you have a Disability Representative or Attorney

What does a Social Security Disability Lawyer or Representative do for your claim?

Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page

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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