What To Expect at your SSDI Medical Exam?
Your First Step after Social Security Denies Your Disability Claim
When your health problems pushed you off work, everything in your life changed.
Bills piled up. Your finances got in trouble. You made the smart decision to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits—which can help you get back a sense of normalcy.
You waited for the letter confirming that you would receive the benefits you worked years to earn. But when the letter arrived, it said Social Security denied your claim.
Now you feel stranded. You’re not sure where to turn. You’re frustrated.
But you don’t have to give up. It’s time to look at an SSDI reconsideration.
You can appeal the denial and still turn it into an approval.
The first step is filing a reconsideration request with Social Security. But it’s a lot more complicated than submitting your initial application.
By working with central Texas attorney Merryl Jones—the Second Chance Lawyer—you can reduce your own burden in putting together a strong case and increase your chances of winning your SSDI reconsideration request in Waco.
You deserve a second chance with an SSDI reconsideration.
How Do I File an SSDI Reconsideration Request in Waco?
If you’ve received a denial letter, you’re not alone. Most people who apply for Social Security Disability benefits are denied at first.
The SSDI reconsideration request is a chance to submit new evidence that shows you deserve Social Security Disability benefits. Through medical reports and other documents, your reconsideration request must prove that you meet the following requirements:
- Your health problems prevent you from working.
- Your medical conditions will last at least a year, or could lead to death.
- You’ve earned enough work credits by paying Social Security taxes.
- You worked under Social Security for at least five of the 10 years before your disability.
You have 60 days to submit your reconsideration request after receiving your initial denial letter, so it’s crucial to move quickly!
After you file your request, Social Security will send your case to a new reviewer for SSDI reconsideration.
You won’t have the benefit of meeting your reviewer in person, so get an experienced attorney to help you prepare the strongest case possible.
It costs you nothing to get Merryl Jones and her legal team to evaluate your disability claim and let you know your options.
What Happens After I File My Reconsideration Request?
You could receive the new reviewer’s decision in four to eight weeks.
Brace yourself, because Social Security statistics over the years have shown very small numbers of applicants winning benefits at the reconsideration level.
Although your claim gets a new reviewer, the reviewer still operates under the same rules as the first person who denied your application.
Your chances might be better in the next step after a reconsideration—taking your case to a hearing with an administrative law judge (ALJ).
It’s your chance to argue, face-to-face with a key decision-maker at Social Security, why you need disability benefits. Preparation is vital to winning benefits at the hearing for SSDI reconsideration. A government study showed that people who bring representatives are nearly three times more likely to win a judge’s approval.
If the ALJ denies your claim, it’s still not over. You can:
- Ask for a review of the judge’s decision by Social Security’s Appeals Council.
- File a lawsuit against Social Security in federal court.
The appeals process is daunting, but Merryl Jones navigates it every day for Texans who need disability benefits.
Your second chance starts now for SSDI reconsideration.
