While many disabled individuals rely on Social Security Disability (SSD) to provide income, actually obtaining Social Security Disability benefits is a major challenge because more than half of all initial benefits applications are denied.
If your claim for benefits is denied, it is important that you do not just give up. You should reach out to a Los Angeles Social Security Disability benefits lawyer to find out your options for appealing the denial and fighting for the benefits that you deserve.
What to Do if Your Social Security Disability Benefits Claim is Denied
If your Social Security Disability benefits claim is denied, there are actually multiple stages of appeal that you could go through to try to get this decision overturned. These include:
- A request for reconsideration: This involves a different disability claims examiner reviewing the information you submitted in your application.
- A disability benefits hearing: A hearing provides the opportunity to present evidence to convince an administrative law judge to overturn the benefits denial.
- An internal appeal within the Social Security Administration of the hearing results: You'll appeal to the appeals board within the Social Security Administration to have the decision made by the administrative law judge reviewed.
- Appeal to the federal court: A federal judge will determine if the Social Security Administration acted properly in denying your benefits claim.
It is important that you act within the deadline to begin the appeals process, as you do not want to have to start your entire Social Security Disability claim over again after a denial.
A Los Angeles disability benefits lawyer can help you with each stage of appealing and can work with you to maximize the chances that your appeal will be successful so you can get the benefits you need. Contact an attorney right away to get help fighting for the disability income you need from the Social Security Administration.