RECEIVING A SOCIAL SECURITY CLAIM DENIAL LETTER
Many people in California rely on Social Security disability payments to cover their monthly expenses. It is common for applicants to receive a denial letter after their initial application. In fact, the majority of claims are denied at the initial application level.
After receiving a denial letter, one of the most important things for Social Security disability applicants to remember is that they only have a limited time to appeal. After receipt of the initial denial letter, claimants have 60 days from the date of the letter to request an appeal.
A denial letter often contains general language and does not explain why a particular claim was denied. It may be a waste of time to request an explanation from the Social Security Administration about why the claim was denied, since it only takes about 15 minutes to complete the forms to lodge an appeal of the denial.
It is a good idea for claimants to contact the Social Security office to confirm that their paperwork was received. Failure to submit an appeal on time can result in the claimant needing to start a new application and losing their right to appeal the previous claim.
Lawyers with experience handling Social Security disability claims may be able to assist applicants with the appeals process. An attorney may be able to fast track some claims if the claimant is facing homelessness or will be unable to afford utility bills or life-sustaining medication if they need to wait for a hearing. Some applicants may receive a faster decision if certain medical requirements are met or if they are suffering from a terminal disease.
The lawyer may be able to ensure that the claimant keeps up with any appeals deadlines. It is easy for claimants who suffer from depression or anxiety to feel discouraged by the appeals process. Hiring an attorney to request an appeal may improve the chances that the claim will be approved.
Related Posts: Relocation and disability applications, Rules for filing a disability claim with Social Security, The nature of work performed is a disability factor, SSD benefits may not be permanent