The first appeal is called reconsideration. A different examiner looks at your whole file again, including any new records. You generally have 60 days from the day you receive the letter to ask for it. Social Security assumes you got the letter five days after the date printed on it.
Is this page for you?
- You received a denial letter for SSDI or SSI
- You are not sure whether to appeal or apply again
- Your denial letter is close to 60 days old
- You were denied for a technical reason, like work credits or income
What we do
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1
Read the denial with you
The letter explains why you were denied. We find the real reason, which tells us what the next review needs to see.
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2
File the appeal on time
We file the request for reconsideration and the updated forms before the deadline, and keep proof that it was filed.
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3
Fill the gaps in the record
We request missing records and ask your doctors for statements that describe your limits in work terms.
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4
Plan for the next step
If reconsideration is denied too, we file for a hearing right away. That is where many claims are decided.
What to gather
Do not wait to call until you have everything. We can help find what is missing.
- Your denial letter (all pages)
- Any new medical records since you applied
- Names of doctors or clinics you have seen since applying
- Notes about how your condition has changed
How long it takes
Reconsideration often takes several months. Missing the 60-day window usually means starting over, though late appeals are sometimes accepted when there is a good reason.
An honest note
Many claims are denied again at reconsideration. If that happens, it does not mean you were wrong to appeal. The hearing that follows is often the first time a person, rather than a file review, hears your story.
Example outcomes
Illustrations written for this sample site. Every claim is different, and past results do not predict yours.
Example outcome · Reconsideration
Approved at reconsideration
Former home health aide, 49, lupus and depression
- The situation
- Her first application left out her rheumatologist and her counselor.
- What we did
- We requested the missing records and therapy notes and filed the appeal well inside the 60 days.
- How it ended
- Approved at reconsideration, without a hearing.
Approved
Example outcome · Hearing and Appeals Council
Denied at the hearing
Former office manager, 44, chronic migraines
- The situation
- Two denials before the hearing. Her treatment had gaps when she lost insurance.
- What we did
- We submitted a headache diary and neurologist records, and asked the Appeals Council to review the judge's decision.
- How it ended
- The judge found she could do some desk work. The Appeals Council declined review. We explained her options, including a new application, and she owed no fee.
Denied
Common questions
Should I appeal or just apply again?
Usually appeal. An appeal keeps your original application date, which can protect months of back pay. A new application can mean losing that. Talk to us before you decide.
What if I missed the deadline?
Call us anyway. Social Security can accept a late appeal if you had a good reason, such as a hospital stay or not getting the letter. If not, we help you plan a new application.
Do I need new evidence to appeal?
It helps a lot. Updated records, a treating doctor's statement about your limits, and notes from specialists often make the difference in how your file is read.