In Minnesota and throughout the United States, more than 70% of claims submitted to the Social Security Administration for benefits receive a denial. If this has happened in your case, try not to lose hope. The decision you received upon your initial SSD or SSI claim is not necessarily final. You can file an appeal.
To clarify, you are under no obligation to appeal a denied claim. In fact, if you prefer, you can start all over by filing a new Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim. There is no limit to the number of times you submit a new application. You can also file an appeal.
Appeal an SSD or SSI decision if you are applying for the same reason
If you are considering filing a new application for the same medical reason listed in your claim that the SSA denied, then it might make more sense to file an appeal rather than a new application. Remember that a denial does not mean that the federal government is saying that you do not have a disability. In fact, there could be several reasons why it denied your claim.
Common reasons why SSD or SSI claims receive a denial
If you are still able to work or your condition is not on a list of government-approved conditions, these issues might cause the SSA to deny your initial SSD or SSI claim. Another reason it may deny your claim is lack of medical evidence. This does not necessarily mean the evidence does not exist. It might mean that you merely neglected to add certain information to your application.
To qualify for SSD or SSI benefits, you must have a condition expected to last 12 months or longer. If a doctor has issued a prognosis stating that you are likely to recover in less than one year, you will not be eligible for benefits.
What happens when you file an appeal?
When you appeal an SSD or SSI claim, you are basically asking the SSA to review your application and to reconsider the decision it originally made. When you ask them to reconsider, you may submit additional evidence, which you may have omitted in the initial application. The SSA can make a new ruling or uphold the denial of your claim. The SSA can also remand your case to an administrative judge, who will then hold a hearing and make a decision.
It’s helpful to seek counsel before you file your initial application from someone who understands the system and knows what the SSA is looking for in an SSD or SSI application before granting benefits.
