What Do You Do If You Were Not Approved for Social Security Disability Benefits During the Hearing Phase?
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by: albert.tobega
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Q: Can you appeal further if you are still not awarded social security disability benefits when your case is heard by an administrative judge?
A: A claimant who is denied after a hearing can file another appeal. You can submit a request to have the Social Security Council of Appeals conduct a review of your claim. There are a few things that can happen once you request the review. The council may look at your claim and deny any further review, if it believes the decision given by the judge was correct. It may decide the case needs to go through a second hearing and will send the case back to the court to have it heard by a different judge. Lastly, the council may review your claim and make a decision about awarding social security disability insurance without involving another hearing or judge. A claimant who is not awarded benefits after an Appeals Council review, may bring a lawsuit through the Federal district courts. Most social security disability claims are represented by an attorney once they reach the hearing phase. Those who were not represented by an attorney when their claims went through the hearing would be wise to contact one before any request for review is filed.
Q: What is the typical amount of time it takes for you to hear whether your application for social security disability benefits was approved or denied?
A: Most claims take about three to six months to get through the initial review process. That being said, many cases take longer. The biggest cause of delays is when medical documentation and information is incomplete or not received. A large number of claims are denied social security benefits after the initial review process. Those claimants will then need to appeal to have their claims reconsidered. Claimants denied after reconsideration can file an appeal to have their claims heard before an administrative judge. By the time a case makes it through the hearing process, it may have been in the system for years. It is difficult, therefore, to determine how long any particular claim might take before a decision to award benefits is made. There are always a few relieved claimants whose applications are approved after being initially reviewed within a few months.
Q: Do you have to file in person when you submit a social security disability application, or can you do it via the web?
A: You can submit your online, as well as find out all the information you need to know about qualifying for disability insurance. Visit http://www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability to learn more.
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