Many people across Florida find the application process for Social Security Disability Insurance frustrating and complex, and with good reason. Applying for these benefits takes time. Many applicants spend considerable time getting their applications together only to have the U.S. Social Security Administration send a denial in response.
However, the SSA notes that if it denies your original application for SSDI, you have the option of filing an appeal. If you do so, the first step in the potentially four-step appeals process involves requesting a reconsideration.
How reconsideration works
When you ask the SSA to reconsider your SSDI application, someone who did not play any part in denying your claim in the first place takes another look at your application. If this party disagrees with the decision to deny your claim and approves you for benefits, you do not need to worry about the other stages in the appeals process.
How to prepare for the reconsideration stage
You need to make sure you are submitting all necessary paperwork during the reconsideration stage. This includes turning over a Reconsideration Disability Report that details your condition and any new evidence you may have to prove its severity. You must also submit an Authorization to Disclose Information form to the SSA, which grants the administration access to your medical records. You may also need to draft an appeals letter detailing why you feel the SSA’s denial of your claim was unjust or unfair.
Timing also matters when appealing your denied SSDI claim. You have 60 days from the day you learned the SSA denied your initial claim in which to file a formal appeal.