There are typically four different stages of appeal when it comes to your Social Security disability claim. Depending on what stage you are at, will determine your right to appeal and how to appeal.
Reconsideration
Administrative Law Judge Hearing
Appeals Council review
Federal Court review
Just because you have 4 stages of appeal, it doesnt always mean that you should appeal your case to the top. In the majority of cases, a claimant will likely at least file a reconsideration appeal and thereafter a request for an administrative law judge hearing. If you have appealed your case to the administrative law judge hearing, this is where you want to win your case. Any appeal after this stage, will be extremely difficult. For example, the Appeals Council only selects specific cases to review and often they only choose cases in which an interesting issue is raised or in which new crucial evidence has come to light. Very few cases are successful at this level unfortunately. If denied at the Appeals Council, the next stage is Federal Court review. You will have to file a lawsuit against the SSA in federal court. This option might give you a better chance at success than the Appeals Council, but it is a very long process that could take years.
It Is Important To Make the Social Security Disability Appeals Decisions That Benefits You Most
Your main goal should be to appeal as few times as possible. You want to try to get your disability benefits as soon as possible as opposed to waiting up to 2 years before you have an administrative law judges hearing. So it is important to gather as much medical evidence as you can to get your initial application approved. This means that you need to get into medical treatment to show proof of your disabling condition. If you want to know more about the appeals process, feel free to contact our office. We help claimants at any stage of the process. Dont wait too long to get disability assistance. We will help you make the right decisions on your claim.