What To Do After An SSDI Denial

6 May 2022
 Categories: Law, Blog


It can be crushing to get a denial letter in the mail after applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). However, many claimants are in the same place as you are since the SSA (Social Security Administration) has extremely strict requirements for being approved. Once you get the letter, you must take action, so read on and find out what to do after an SSDI denial.

You Can Appeal

It's important for claimants to realize that the SSA offers them the ability to appear before a hearing officer to appeal the denial. If you are prepared for the hearing, you have a very good chance of being approved for benefits after the appeal hearing. However, you cannot just wait for the hearing and show up expecting good things to happen.

Read the Letter

Your denial letter has important information in it that you will need to know. Firstly, note the deadline for letting the SSA know that you want to appeal the denial. You may only have a few weeks once you receive the letter to respond for an appeal. Then, pay close attention to the reason for the denial. In some cases, the reasoning is difficult to decipher and understand. However, taking the next step should make everything clear to you.

Speak to a Social Security Lawyer

Social Security lawyers can help you interpret the letter from the SSA because they understand what the SSA is trying to say. They will know about any information the SSA lacks and will gather that for you in time for the appeal. Then, they will appear at your side at the appeal and argue for your benefits with the administrative law judge. For example, many claimants fail to properly communicate to the SSA the way their medical condition prevents them from working at their most recent job. Your Social Security lawyer will explain your medical conditions and the symptoms you are experiencing, and compare them to the job tasks that you can no longer perform. Then, they will argue against your being able to work at any other job as well.

Once you speak to a lawyer, they will gather medical records, job descriptions, information about your conditions, and the results of diagnostic tests to present as proof of your disability at the appeal hearing. Your lawyer may also arrange for you to be examined by a doctor so that your medical information is fresh and updated. After all, many medical conditions get worse as time passes.

For more information, visit a law office website, such as https://www.brookslawgroup.com/.


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