It is a situation many an individual from Michigan has found themselves in. They submitted a claim for Social Security Disability benefits after having suffered a disabling injury or developed a disabling condition that has impeded their ability to work, but their claim was denied. While receiving an initial claims denial can be disheartening, it does not mean a person has to end their quest of pursuing SSD benefits. There is an appeals process in place.
The first appeal mechanism available to a person who has had an initial claim for SSD benefits denied is generally a request for reconsideration. Typically, following receiving a letter from the Social Security Administration notifying them of a claims denial, a person has 60 days to file a reconsideration request.
Among the things a person can include in such a request is evidence aimed at addressing the reason the SSA gave for the denial. This can involve medical reports. Thus, carefully compiling detailed medical reports can be an important step to take at this appeals stage. This is a process that experienced disability attorneys can help with.
Generally, when the SSA receives a request for reconsideration, it will look at an applicant’s claim again, in light of any new evidence the applicant provides, and determine whether to reverse the denial.
If, in this decision, the SSA opts not to reverse the denial, the applicant has further appeals processes available to them, the next of which is generally the seeking of a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge.
Disability attorneys can answer questions SSD applicants have about requests for reconsideration or other SSD appeals processes.
Source: FindLaw, “Disability Reconsideration: Appealing a Denied Claim,” Accessed Aug. 5, 2014