Social Security disability claimants whose initial applications for disability are denied have 60 days from receipt of denial to file an appeal, and that first appeal is called a Request for Reconsideration.

Reconsideration takes on average about 90 days, and only 15% of reconsideration appeals are granted.  However, reconsideration is a necessary step before the hearing level, where 55% of appeals are granted.

At reconsideration a different team of disability examiners will evaluate your claim.  The SSA will not make a medical determination at this level.  That determination does not occur until after the second appeal and a hearing is held.

If you cannot work and your initial application has been denied, I encourage you to file an appeal for reconsideration and then to appeal its likely denial.

It is after you have appealed your reconsideration denial that I can help you, for I focus on helping claimants with their hearings.  That is the stage where a knowledgeable disability attorney can provide the most benefit.

Until you reach that post-reconsideration stage, I encourage you to rely on this website’s application and appeals articles for assistance, including: