Your Denial Letter Is Not the End of Your Claim

When Social Security denies your SSDI claim, you have the right to challenge that decision. You are not starting over—you are continuing the same claim through a formal process. The Social Security Administration (SSA) must review your case again if you request it, and you have specific windows of time to do so. Most people who are denied do not appeal, but most people who do appeal and stick with the process eventually receive benefits.

Your denial letter contains the reason SSA rejected your claim. Common reasons include: SSA says your condition does not meet the medical severity threshold, your work history does not may have access to you, or your medical evidence was incomplete. The letter also tells you how long you have to respond and which appeal step comes next. Reading this letter carefully is your first action.

Key Takeaways

  • You have 60 days from the date on your denial letter to request reconsideration, which is a free second review by a different SSA examiner.
  • Your denial letter lists the specific reason SSA rejected your claim, and you must address that reason in your appeal to have any chance of success.
  • Reconsideration is the fastest appeal step, but it has the lowest approval rate; most people who win do so at the hearing stage with a judge.
  • You can submit new medical evidence at any appeal stage, and new evidence is often what changes the outcome.
  • If you miss the 60-day window, you can still appeal, but you must explain to SSA why you missed the important date.

Read Your Denial Letter and Identify the Reason

Your denial letter is a legal document. It will say one of these things: your condition is not severe enough to meet SSA's rules, your medical records do not support your claim, your work history does not may have access to you for SSDI, or some combination of these. SSA must tell you which one. If the letter is unclear, call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 and ask them to explain the specific reason.

Write down the reason. This is what you will address in your appeal. If SSA says your condition is not severe enough, you will need stronger medical evidence. If SSA says your work history does not may have access to you, you may not be able to win on SSDI but you might may have access to for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) instead—a different program with different rules. If SSA says your medical records are incomplete, you know exactly what to gather.

Keep the letter in a safe place. You will need it to prove you are appealing within the important date, and you will reference it throughout the process.

Request Reconsideration Within 60 Days

Reconsideration is your first appeal step. It is a free, second review of your claim by a different SSA examiner who will look at your original process plus any new evidence you submit. You must request it within 60 days of the date on your denial letter. The date on the letter is what counts, not the date you received it.

To request reconsideration, you can:

  • Visit your local Social Security office in person and tell them you want to appeal.
  • Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 and request reconsideration over the phone.
  • Mail a signed letter to your local Social Security office saying you want to appeal your denial.

You do not need a special form. A straightforward letter that says "I want to appeal my SSDI denial from [date]" is enough. Include your Social Security number. If you mail it, send it certified mail so you have proof SSA received it. Keep a copy for yourself.

After you request reconsideration, SSA will send you a notice telling you the case has been reopened. This can take one to two weeks. You will then have a window—usually 30 to 45 days—to submit new evidence before the examiner makes a decision.

Gather and Submit New Medical Evidence

New medical evidence is what changes outcomes at reconsideration. SSA already has your original medical records from your first process. To win on appeal, you need to show SSA something it did not see before, or show that your condition has gotten worse since you first applied.

Contact your doctors and ask them to send SSA updated records. Tell them the date of your process and the date of your denial. Ask for:

  • Recent treatment notes from the last three to six months.
  • A statement from the doctor about how your condition limits your ability to work.
  • Test results, imaging, or lab work from recent visits.
  • Any changes in medication or treatment since your first process.

If you have seen a new doctor since you applied, that doctor's records are especially valuable because they show your condition has not improved. If you have been hospitalized, had surgery, or started a new treatment, send those records when ready.

Send the evidence directly to SSA. Your local Social Security office can tell you the mailing address for your case, or you can include it with a letter requesting reconsideration. Write your Social Security number on every page. Keep copies of everything you send.

Understand Reconsideration Approval Rates and Timelines

Reconsideration has a low approval rate—roughly 10 to 15 percent of people are approved at this stage. This does not mean you should not try; it means you should prepare for the possibility that you will move to the next step. The reason the rate is low is that the same SSA office is reviewing the same file with similar evidence. Real change usually requires a hearing in front of a judge, which is the next step if you are denied again.

Reconsideration decisions usually take 60 to 90 days, though this varies by region and how busy your local office is. You will receive a written decision in the mail. If you are approved, SSA will tell you when your benefits begin. If you are denied again, the letter will explain why and tell you how to request a hearing.

Do not assume a reconsideration denial means you cannot win. Many people are denied at reconsideration and approved at the hearing stage. The difference is that a hearing judge reviews your case in person, can ask you questions, and can weigh your testimony alongside the medical evidence.

Request a Hearing if Reconsideration Is Denied

If you are denied at reconsideration, you have 60 days from the date of that denial letter to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). This is a real court proceeding, though it is less formal than a civil trial. The judge will review all your evidence, may ask you questions, and will make a new decision.

To request a hearing, use the same methods as reconsideration: visit your local office, call 1-800-772-1213, or mail a signed letter. Tell SSA you want a hearing before a judge. Again, you do not need a special form.

Hearings usually take three to six months to schedule from the date you request one, though this varies widely by region. Some areas have a backlog and wait times can be longer. Once a date is set, SSA will mail you a notice telling you when and where to appear.

At this stage, many people hire a disability lawyer or representative. A lawyer can prepare you for the hearing, gather evidence, and present your case to the judge. Lawyers are paid only if you win, and SSA limits what they can charge. This is optional, but statistics show that people with representation win at higher rates than those without.

What Happens if You Miss the 60-Day important date

If you do not request reconsideration within 60 days of your denial letter, you can still appeal. However, you must explain to SSA why you missed the important date. SSA calls this a "good cause" request. Reasons that SSA usually accepts include: you did not receive the letter, you were seriously ill or hospitalized, you had a family emergency, or you misunderstood the important date.

To request good cause, contact your local Social Security office and explain why you missed the important date. Bring any evidence you have—a hospital record, a letter from a doctor, a certified mail receipt showing you did not receive the letter. SSA will decide whether your reason is acceptable. If it is, your appeal will proceed as if you had requested it on time. If it is not, your claim will be closed and you would have to start a new process from the beginning.

Do not wait if you realize you have missed the important date. Contact SSA when ready and explain what happened. The sooner you do, the better your chances of being granted good cause.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work while my appeal is pending?

Yes. Your appeal does not affect your right to work. However, if you earn more than $1,550 per month (in 2024), SSA may consider you able to work and deny your claim on that basis. The exact amount changes each year. If you are working, tell SSA about your earnings when you appeal.

Do I have to pay anything to appeal?

No. Reconsideration and hearings are free. If you hire a lawyer, the lawyer is paid from your back pay if you win—you do not pay out of pocket. SSA limits lawyer fees to 25 percent of your back pay, up to a maximum of $7,200.

What if my condition has gotten worse since I applied?

Tell SSA this in your appeal and send new medical evidence showing the worsening. A condition that has progressed is often stronger evidence than the original process. Make sure your doctors document the change in their treatment notes.

Can I appeal if SSA says I do not meet the medical rules?

Yes. SSA's medical rules are strict, but they are not the only way to win. If your condition does not meet a specific rule, you can still show that the combination of your conditions prevents you from working. This is called a "medical-vocational allowance." A judge at a hearing is more likely to consider this than an examiner at reconsideration.

How many times can I appeal?

You can appeal through reconsideration and then a hearing. If you lose at the hearing, you can appeal to the Appeals Council, and then to federal court. Most people do not go beyond the hearing stage. If you lose at a hearing, a lawyer can advise you on whether further appeal is worth pursuing.