The Social Security Administration (SSA) receives funds from individual workers and self-employed professionals. Contributions help fund both retirement benefit programs and disability benefits. If a working professional develops a disabling medical condition before they reach retirement age, they may no longer be capable of working.
At that point, they might require Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits to cover their basic expenses. People may qualify for SSDI benefits when they have medical challenges that prevent them from working any job, provided that the condition is either terminal or likely to last at least a year. Unfortunately, many qualified applicants get rejected by the SSA when they first submit a claim. People do have the right to appeal unfavorable determinations.
What appeals options are available to workers with disabling medical conditions?
A reconsideration
The first stage of an SSDI appeal is the reconsideration phase. Applicants have an opportunity to correct errors in their initial applications and supplemental paperwork. They can also gather additional medical documentation to submit to the SSA. Records that affirm the practical impact of their condition and the proposed treatment plan to manage their condition can help affirm that a worker is unable to work. Reconsiderations can result in an approval as quickly as a few weeks after an initial rejection.
A court hearing
If the reconsideration process isn’t successful, applicants can ask to present the matter to an administrative law judge. During SSDI appeal hearings, applicants and their lawyers can present medical evidence and even testimony from specialized professionals. Hearings can result in an award of SSDI benefits. Applicants may even be eligible for backdated benefits starting when they initially qualified.
Additional stages of appeal
Sometimes, administrative law judges do not agree with applicants seeking SSDI benefits. There are two additional stages of appeal available if the hearing is not successful. Qualified SSDI applicants can present their situation to the Appeals Council. They also have the option of filing a lawsuit in the federal District Courts.
The SSDI appeals process can be even more challenging than a straightforward initial SSDI application. Securing legal representation while preparing to apply or in the early days of an appeal can help workers with disabling medical conditions pursue the benefits they need for financial stability.