Social security disability appeal

Social security disability appeal process.

The federal government will often deny an application for disability benefits. There are steps that individuals can take in order to refile or appeal their disability claim and continue with the process . Whether you were denied for medical or some other reasons, more details on the steps to take and the process is below. There are also resources available if your SSI or SSDI payments were reduced or stopped. Learn how the disability appeal process works at a social security office near you . Note that some private studies show that about 60% of applications for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are denied. Even after someone appeals, the government may deny up to 75% of those re-filings or reconsiderations. In these cases you can also request a hearing with the administration at a local office.

How to appeal social security disability application

The process can be complicated and time consuming . So some people turn to advocates, disability lawyers or third parties to help in this process and to ensure that they are being treated fairly by the Social Security Administration. If you take this approach then be sure to review any contracts closely before entering into an agreement with a representative. The federal government Social Security Administration, which oversees SSDI, recommends that if your application was denied for medical reasons that you submit the Appeal Request and Disability Report . If you take this step then be prepared to have and submit any new, current details on your medical condition and treatments that you may be undergoing. This will include the results of any doctor visits, tests, or exams. Some claims are rejected for other reasons. If you application has been denied for so called non-medical reasons, which can be any number of reasons as expanded upon below, then it is recommended to call your local Social Security Office. Or individuals can dial 1-800-772-1213. They can request an appeal of the process or even a hearing. Applications can be denied for any number of reasons . However a notice needs to be submitted to you that gives the reason why. Some of the more common reasons include technical rationale (which contains information on your medical condition), the government may say there are still some types of jobs you can do, or there could be a non-medical reason. In any regards, make sure that you received some type of description and explanation. Some of the more common non-medical reasons for denial include the following. The claimant’s income is too high. Both Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and SSDI have income restrictions in place and the financial aid is only intended for low income individuals. For some applicants, the government and their medical specialists will state that your medical condition or disability won’t last long enough. Regulations put into place by the Social Security Administration state that financial aid can be paid to people only if their impairment will last 12 months or longer or that may result in their death. The applicant needs to cooperate throughout the process. If you refuse to provide medical records, are not accessible, don’t attend any consultative examination, or fulfill other requests then the government has the right to deny your claim. People who don’t follow any prescribed therapies or treatments may be denied. There can be some exceptions made for those with a mental condition, the very low income who lack insurance, or for religious beliefs, but in general the applicant needs to be sure they receive treatment for their condition. Disability payments can be denied for certain felons or people convicted of a crime. Anyone that is involved in obtaining disability benefits or compensation by dishonest means or fraud, the Social Security Administration can terminate your benefits. Even if your disability claim was denied, it is usually recommend to appeal it. The sooner you take this step the more likely you are to be successful. The income limits can also be referred to as substantial gainful activity, or SGA.

Appeal process from disability hearings

One of the most effective ways to gain approval is to request a hearing. This provides the applicant the ability to explain your situation and present your case face-to-face to someone who can grant you benefits or some form of financial support. The request needs to be made within 60 days of the original denial. Note that the government can take up to 6 months to schedule this hearing. In addition to that timeframe, it often takes a few months to receive a formal decision. A hearing is an example of when people usually turn to some type of advocate, lawyer, or non-attorney representative for assistance. During this event an administrative, independent judge will run the session. The judge will review your medical records, hear your testimony (or that of your representative), review other documents, and give others a chance to speak at the hearing. They will come to some type of independent decision on the evidence in your case. In most cases the judge will ask a vocational expert or medical professional to testify about the condition or the disability that is being claimed. As indicated, at this stage it is often a good idea to have a legal representative for the disability appeal . This can be an attorney or disability advocate. Be sure to read the fine print of any contract agreed to. It is always important to obtain a representative with multiple years of experience in representing Social Security claimants. Some of what they can help with includes the following. Or learn what a disability lawyer does . Reviewing your case under Social Security Regulations. The representative can contact your doctor in order to obtain a report consistent with the regulations. Gathering information on your medical conditions and other evidence. Advocates can refer individuals to specialists and doctors in order to obtain further medical reports. Advising clients on how to best prepare for the hearing. If the person still loses the case, then they can even still further appeal to the Appeals Council. Advocates or representatives can send people a vocational expert for a report on your ability to hold a job. Ask that a prior application for SSDI benefits or financial assistance be reopened to obtain more retroactive compensation for you. An attorney or advocate can even ensure your rights are protected by objecting to improper procedures and evidence.

number of other services are provided. Read more on

disability advocates . As indicated, be sure to closely review any contracts before agreeing to use a lawyer or some type of advocate. In general, the representative will charge a fee to represent you, and it should be on a contingent basis. This means that the applicant will only need to pay it they win your case. The normal amount charged will be about 25% of any back compensation from the Social Security Administration. There may be some minimal out of pocket costs too that may be in the $100 or so range. When appealing your claim, you need to have a substantial amount of medical evidence. It is important that the SSA and their files have all of the medical information in your case. This includes things such as your history, physical and mental abilities, education and training, work experience, and daily activities. Have records of what sort of treatment your doctor provides, how often you take each prescription medication, symptoms and treatment, and more. This will be requested throughout the process, up to and including any hearings. In some cases, Social security may try to reduce, or even stop, your SSDI and/or SSI benefits. The government may review cases any time, and it is their right to do this. They may decide that your medical condition has improved or that the individual is now able to work. If the Social Security Administration reviews your case, and if you still think you are disabled and unable to work, then try to get medical evidence from your doctor. It would need to prove that your condition has stayed the same or is now worse. If the government pushed back on your claim then it is often a good idea to get a lawyer or some other professional to represent you. If they take the step of actually terminating your benefits and any payments, then that decision can also be appealed as well. Or if they reduce or cut your social social security payments , there is help available. This needs to be done within 60 days. The process will involved meeting with an Administrative Law Judge as well, and that is one reason why professional help is recommended.

Office of Disability Adjudication and Review

If your claim was denied and it requires an appeal, the locations of the social security offices that handle that appeal process are below . Staff at these centers can provide further information and help answer questions if needed. Or call 1-800-772-1213 to find additional social security offices to file an appeal. Alaska 188 W Northern Lights Boulevard, Anchorage, AK 99503, call (855) 602-5004 Alabama 1200 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35285, call (866) 613-2863 for information. Walnut Street Executive Center, 204 South Walnut Street, Suite D, Florence, AL 35630, telephone: (866) 964-9978 550 Government Street, Mobile, AL 36602, call (866) 563-4698 4344 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36106, (866) 931-9032 Arizona 3737 North 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014, Telephone: (888) 748-1991 18444 North 25th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85023, (877) 784-3690 201 N. Bonita Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85745, dial (888) 383-8694 Arkansas 2405 Federal Office Building, 700 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201, Telephone: (866) 592-2549 California 2440 Tulare Street, Fresno, CA 93721, (866) 596-7568 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90802, (855) 532-0889 606 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014, dial (888) 488-0517 12121 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90025, main phone (866) 748-2089 22690 Cactus Avenue, Moreno Valley, CA 92553, (866) 737-4503 12440 E. Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650, Telephone: (877) 870-6385 1301 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612, call (866) 366-4916 Centrum North, Suite 600, 1120 West La Veta Avenue, Orange, CA 92868, Telephone: (866) 593-1447 800 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91101, dial (866) 354-0220 1610 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA 95815, (866) 931-2544 605 North Arrowhead Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92401, (866) 331-7127 525 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101, (866) 331-2294 555 Battery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111, Telephone number is (866) 964-7584 301 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, (866) 770-1221 280 South 1st Street RM 330, San Jose, CA 95113-3005, (866) 331-2219 4040 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903, phone (866) 814-3559 222 East Carrillo Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, (866) 273-4953 3116 W. March Lane, Stockton, CA 95219, phone (866) 494-3136 Colorado 1244 Speer Boulevard, Denver, CO 80204-3584, (888) 397-9803 111 S. Tejon Street, Suite 401, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, Telephone: (888) 844-8269 Connecticut 135 High Street, Room 331, Hartford, CT 06103-1193, (866) 931-2878 157 Church Street, 22nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06510, (866) 613-2750 Delaware 500 W. Loockerman Street, Dover, DE 19904, call (877) 405-3671 for intake. Florida 500 East Broward Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33394, dial (888)436-2637 3650 Colonial Boulevard, Ft. Myers, FL 33966, (888) 462-1109 8880 Freedom Crossing Trail, Jacksonville, FL 32256, (866) 931-0124 One Riverview Square, 8th Floor, 333 S. Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33130, phone: (866) 964-5052 Glenridge Building, Suite 300, 3505 Lake Lynda Drive, Orlando, FL 32817-9801, (877) 833-2730 830 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, (877) 452-4193 1961 Quail Grove Lane, Tallahassee, FL 32311, (888) 472-5996 4925 Independence Parkway, Tampa, FL 33634, dial (855) 248-0239 Georgia Atlanta Federal Center, Suite 20T10, 61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303, Telephone: (404) 562-1182 245 Peachtree Center Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30303, (866) 964-7350 3105 Clairmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, dial (855) 210-1031 1058 Claussen Road, Augusta, GA 30907-0300, (888) 872-1596 10155 Eagle Drive, Covington, GA 30014, primary telephone: (866) 708-3231 484 Mulberry Street, Macon, GA 31201-7929, (866) 331-2191

Southern Oaks Court, Savannah, GA 31405, (866) 964-7590

Hawaii 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96850, dial (855) 601-2479 Idaho 720 East Park Boulevard, Boise, ID 83712, phone (866) 826-3892 Illinois 200 West Adams Street, Chicago, IL 60606, phone: (877) 800-7576 131 S. Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60603, (866) 964-1719 200 West Adams, Chicago, IL 60606, call (877) 768-5681 1033 University Place, Suite 200, Evanston, IL 60201, (866) 336-6051 2301 West 22nd Street, Oak Brook, IL 60523, (866) 964-7344 15401 South 94th Avenue, Orland Park, IL 60462, telephone: (877) 490-9530 3328 W. Willow Knolls Drive, Peoria, IL 61614, dial (866) 726-8293 Indiana Federal Building, Room 272, 101 NW Martin Luther King Boulevard, Evansville, IN 47708, call (855) 863-3559 6511 Brotherhood Way, Fort Wayne, IN 46825, dial (866) 770-1735 151 North Delaware Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2510, (866) 931-4820 1250 Eastport Centre Drive, Valparaiso, IN 46383, main phone (866) 873-1269 Iowa 1501 50th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50266, (877) 628-6577 Kansas 3712 SW Burlingame, Topeka, KS 66609, (888) 436-2615 3207 N. Cypress Street, Wichita, KS 67226, (866) 964-3421 Kentucky 2241 Buena Vista Road, Lexington, KY 40505-9901, phone: (866) 783-7301 Gene Snyder U.S. Courthouse, 601 W. Broadway, Suite 300, Louisville, KY 40202, (866) 755-0197 3504 Cumberland Avenue, Middlesboro, KY 40965-1199, (877) 600-2851 4730 Village Square Drive, Paducah, KY 42001, (866) 964-2041 Louisiana 3403 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302, phone: (877) 748-9764

Galleria Boulevard, Metairie, LA 70001, Telephone: (877) 870-6383

1515 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, call the center at (888) 297-2210 Louisiana Tower, Suite 700, 401 Edwards Street, Shreveport, LA 71101-6129, call (866) 690-1805 Maine One Portland Square, Portland, ME 04101-4092, phone: (877) 701-2137 Maryland 1010 Park Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201-5600, (866) 613-3960 Rolling Road Commerce Center, 2709 Rolling Road, Baltimore, MD 21244, (877) 711-5019 Massachusetts One Bowdoin Square, Boston, MA 02114, dial (888) 870-7578 439 South Union Street, Lawrence, MA 01843, dial (877) 405-9189 for information. 1441 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103, phone: (866) 964-5058 Michigan 477 Michigan Avenue, Room 900, Detroit, MI 48226, telephone: (888) 748-7696 300 West Second Street, Flint, MI 48502-2047, (877) 607-9526 Campau Square Plaza Building, Suite 300, 99 Monroe NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, (866) 613-2860 4202 Collins Road, Lansing, MI 48910, (877) 691-6144 19575 Victor Parkway, Livonia, MI 48152, call (866) 530-7806 for details. 2501 W. Beltline Highway, Madison, WI 53713, telephone: (877) 600-2854 4035 Sweeney Road, Mount Pleasant, MI 48858, (866) 873-6604 25900 Greenfield Road, Oak Park, MI 48237-1267, (877) 223-6060 Minnesota 250 Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55401, telephone: (877) 512-3856 Mississippi 1901 Broadway Drive, Hattiesburg, MS 39402, (866) 348-5831 McCoy Federal Building, Suite 401, 100 West Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39269, (888) 385-8499 1150 South Green Street, Tupelo, MS 38804, call (866) 275-9405 Missouri 2300 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, Telephone: (888) 238-7975 301 McGee, Kansas City, MO 64108-2605, (888) 488-7742 1285 Fern Ridge Parkway, Creve Coeur, MO 63141, (877) 833-2445 2143 East Primrose Avenue, Springfield, MO 65804, (888) 472-2404 200 North Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102, (866) 404-1859 4300 Goodfellow Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63120, dial (877) 409-4579 for information. Montana 2900 Fourth Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101-1266, Telephone: (877) 545-5512 402 Buttonwood Drive, Columbia, MO 65201 dial (877) 331-8351 Nebraska Center Pointe Professional Plaza, 9239 West Center Road, Suite 100, Omaha, NE 68124, (888) 881-4633 Nevada 300 South 4th Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101, (888) 397-5623 300 Booth Street, Reno, NV 89509, dial the office at (877) 897-0607

New Hampshire

1750 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03104, (888) 318-7973

New Jersey

2475 McClellan Avenue, Pennsauken, NJ 08109, (866) 964-5769

New Mexico

555 Broadway, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102, phone: (866) 731-3998 201 3rd Street, Albuquerque, NM 87102, (866) 964-1298

New York

Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278, phone: (212) 264-4036
North Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12207-2211, dial (866) 643-3035

226 East 161st Street, Bronx, NY 10451, phone 866-563-9573 111 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201-9238, main telephone: (866) 964-9971

Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14202. Call (866) 348-5819 for information.

375 North Broadway, Jericho, NY 11753, (866) 931-4494 325 West Side Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07305, (877) 773-7451 1100 Raymond Boulevard, Newark, NJ 07102, (877) 405-9798

Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278-0035, Telephone: (877) 405-6744

Joseph P. Addabo Federal Building, 155-10 Jamaica Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11431, call the office at (866) 931-6092 100 State Street, Rochester, NY 14614, (866) 331-3271 300 S. State Street, Syracuse, NY 13202, (888) 655-6477

South Broadway, White Plains, NY 10601, call (877) 691-6146

North Carolina

6701 Carmel Road, Charlotte, NC 28226, phone: (888) 397-4124 150 Rowan Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301, call (888) 552-7169 101 South Edgeworth Street, Greensboro, NC 27401, (866) 690-2091 4800 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh, NC 27609, main telephone: (866) 708-3174

North Dakota

655 First Avenue North, Fargo, ND 58102-4971, Telephone: (877) 319-3073 Ohio 121 South Main Street, Akron, OH 44308-1426, Telephone: (866) 708-3209 312 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202, (877) 405-7672 1660 West Second Street, Cleveland, OH 44113, main number is (877) 402-0822 401 N. Front Street, Columbus, OH 43215, (888) 397-6870 Courthouse Plaza SW, Suite 300, 10 N Ludlow Street, Dayton, OH 45402, telephone number is (888) 450-4590 One Seagate, Toledo, OH 43604, call (866) 783-7304 Oklahoma 524 South 2nd Street, McAlester, OK 74501, main number (877) 748-9767 301 NW 6th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, telephone: (866) 701-8094

West 2nd Street, Tulsa, OK 74103, dial (888) 286-1124

Oregon 211 E. 7th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97401, dial (866) 964-7044 333 SW 1st Avenue, Portland, OR 97204, (866) 964-6291 Pennsylvania 300 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123, (215) 597-9980 8380 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, telephone: (866) 964-7369

North 2nd Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, call (888) 352-3691

334 Washington Street, Johnstown, PA 15901-9954, for information dial (866) 331-7134 1601 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, dial (866) 964-6288 833 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, main phone (866) 572-9721 1000 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, dial (866) 331-2291 One Adams Place, Suite 200, 300 Seven Fields Boulevard, Mars, PA 16046, telephone: (855) 278-4199 Stegmaier Building, Suite 201, 7 North Wilkes-Barre Boulevard, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702-5242, call (866) 895-1594

Rhode Island

155 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903, (877) 583-4082

South Carolina

3875 Faber Place Drive, North Charleston, SC 29405, Telephone: (877) 405-1467 1927 Thurmond Mall Boulevard, Columbia, SC 29201-2375, call (866) 399-6950 300 University Ridge, Greenville, SC 29601-3698, (866) 827-6721

South Dakota

4020 Jackson Boulevard, Rapid City, SD 57702, dial (877) 813-9124 1720 South Southeastern Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57103, (877) 378-9080 Tennessee 1232 Premier Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37421, Telephone: (877) 833-2721 6840 Carothers Parkway, Franklin, TN 37067-6538, call (866) 568-9450 2405 South Wilcox Drive, Kingsport, TN 37660, (888) 632-6913 135 Circle Lane, Knoxville, TN 37919. Dial (877) 692-3141 309 Monroe Street, Memphis, TN 38103, (866) 348-5830 221 Cumberland Bend, Nashville, TN 37228-1803, (877) 583-4103 Texas 1301 Young Street, Dallas, TX 75202-5433, Telephone: (214) 767-9401 700 North Pearl Street, Suite 600, Dallas, TX 75201, call (866) 563-3885 12790 Merit Drive, Dallas, TX 75251, main phone: (866) 331-7135 5111 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, AR 72903-2034, (877) 348-7549 819 Taylor Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102, main phone (866) 613-2744 2009 West Jefferson Avenue, Harlingen, TX 78550, dial (877) 452-6985 9945 Bissonnet Street, Houston, TX 77036-8203, (866) 779-5456 4015 Aldine Bender Road, Houston, TX 77032, dial (877) 850-7829 10222 San Pedro Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78216, (855) 829-8915 Utah 125 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84138, (877) 628-6579 Virginia 1470 Pantops Mountain Place, Charlottesville, VA 22911, (866) 613-2969 5850 Lake Herbert Drive, Norfolk, VA 23502, (866) 931-9167 801 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219-2406, (877) 405-3665 612 South Jefferson Street, Roanoke, VA 24011, dial (866) 592-3548 One Skyline Tower, 5107 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041, (703) 605-8020 4401 Ford Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22302, (703) 605-8990 Washington Columbia Tower, Suite 2900, 701 Fifth Street, M\S 904, Seattle, WA 98104-7075, main phone (206) 615-2236 Yesler Building, Suite 500, 300 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104-3389, (888) 366-6144 714 N Iron Bridge Way, Spokane, WA 99202-4929, (888) 253-3903 2413 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402, Telephone: (888) 208-4640

Washington DC

1227 25th Street N.W., Washington, DC 20037, phone: (866) 414-6259

West Virginia

500 Quarrier Street, Charleston, WV 25301, (888) 527-9325 301 9th Street, Huntington, WV 25701, (866) 592-1607 Chestnut Ridge Road, Morgantown, WV 26505, (877) 405-9197 Wisconsin 310 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53203, (866) 495-0039 Wyoming 100 East B Street, Casper, WY 82601, (877) 505-4543