Going through a catastrophic accident that leaves you partially or completely disabled is an extremely difficult situation to overcome. There will likely be changes that affect your ability to perform daily tasks. You also might not be able to continue working. This could have a drastic effect on your and your family’s well-being. Fortunately, there are government programs that can help you in a situation like this. Applying for social security disability benefits can help you persevere through this difficult time. However, there is a chance your claim could be denied.
Beginning the appeals process
If your application for benefits was denied, there is no reason to lose hope. Only 30% of people receive approval on their first claim. With this in mind, it is wise to begin the appeals process as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss the deadline. To start the process, you must:
- File for a review: After you received a denial for Social Security benefits, you can ask for an additional review online. The Social Security Administration will have a new employee take a look at your case. If you have any additional evidence, it may be wise to send it in.
- Attend a hearing: If your application did not receive approval, you would have to ask for an administrative hearing. A judge will review your case and hand down their ruling.
- Ask for an Appeals Council review: If the judge still does not approve your application, you can ask that the Appeals Council look at your case. The council may decline to review your claim if they agree with the judge in the previous hearing.
- Apply for a federal court evaluation: You can take your case one step further if you still received a denial from the council. There are no further steps after this point, and it may be rare for a case to make it this far in the appeals process.
Going through the entire appeals process on your own is challenging. Having an experienced attorney help you can make this whole situation easier on you. Your attorney will already have an in-depth understanding of this entire process and can provide recommendations if you need guidance.
