SSDI Appeals
When the Social Security Administration (SSA) makes a decision about an individual’s Social Security Disability (SSD) eligibility or the amount of an individual’s benefit award, the SSA sends a letter (called a Notice of Decision) to the individual which explains the SSA’s decision. If the letter is a denial of benefits, the letter is called a Notice of Disapproved Claim. If the letter is in response to a request for reconsideration, the letter is called a Notice of Reconsideration.
Regardless of the type of denial letter an individual receives, if the individual does not agree with the SSA’s decision, he or she has the right to ask the SSA to take another look at its decision. The process of asking for a review of the SSA’s decision is called an appeal. There are four levels of appeal. An individual who is disagrees with an SSA decision begins at the first level of appeal. If the individual is not satisfied with the decision at the first level of appeal, he or she can move to the next level, until the individual receives a satisfactory result or until all levels of appeal are exhausted.