What Is the Appeal Process for Social Security Disability in Georgia?

If you are hurt while doing your job and it prevents you from returning to regular work, you may have the right to Social Security Disability insurance (SSDI). All U.S. citizens pay into SSDI as part of the government’s Social Security program, which means you have a right to seek benefits in certain situations.

However, many people apply for SSDI every day, and only a portion will get approved for benefits. If your application gets denied, you have the option to appeal the denial, but you’ll need to act fast and get the right help. Here’s what you need to know about Social Security Disability and the appeal process.

Understanding How Social Security Disability Works in Georgia

Social Security Disability is a type of insurance meant for workers who get hurt on the job, and their injuries prevent them from returning to gainful employment in the future. SSDI was created to help injured workers support themselves and their families when they can’t continue to work.

To receive SSDI, you must be able to prove that:

• You have a medical condition that keeps you from working.
• And you meet the minimal requirements for paying into Social Security through taxes on your income.
• Your application gets reviewed by the Social Security Administration (SSA). If the SSA approves your application, you’ll begin receiving regular SSDI payments.

However, this system is not perfect, and it’s common for those who really need SSDI to get their application denied. Currently, around 60% of Social Security Disability claims in Georgia get rejected. If that happens, you usually have 60 days from receiving your denial notice to appeal.

Why Rejections Happen 

Thousands of applications get rejected by the SSA each year. Sometimes the rejections can be for legitimate reasons, and other times they may feel unfair. Regardless, the SSA denies applications for various reasons: 

• They don’t believe the evidence you provided is enough for SSDI benefits.
• They don’t think that you have taken proactive care of your health and wellness.
• Any alcohol or substance addiction
• Too many prior rejections or appeals under your application history
• Failing to provide sufficient information on your application or filling out your application incorrectly
• You can still work or still earn sufficient income through employment. 

Remember, it can take several appeals to get your application to go through, and the SSA doesn’t make the application or the appeal process easy. After getting rejected, don’t throw in the towel just yet. You can go through the steps to reverse their decision, so you can get the benefits you deserve.

How to Appeal a Social Security Disability Denial

If your application gets denied and you want to appeal, there are four main steps in the appeal process in Georgia.

Request for Reconsideration

The first step in the appeal process is filing a Request for Reconsideration. This means you’re asking for someone to thoroughly review your claim again. The person who looks at your claim this time is never the same person involved in the initial process. The reviewer will look over all evidence from your original application and any new evidence you provide.

You can request this appeal and check on the status of your reconsideration request online. If you don’t want to do it online, you can also complete the process over the phone or at a local SSA office. Unfortunately, many of these requests for reconsideration are also denied, which is why we recommend working with a Georgia social security disability lawyer who can help.

Hearing By an Administrative Law Judge

If your reconsideration gets denied and you disagree with the reasons for denial, you can request a hearing online. This hearing usually happens within 75 miles of where you live. It’s carried out by an administrative law judge who was not involved in any part of your application or reconsideration review.

Once this hearing has happened, you can also check the status online at the SSA website. The waiting period for a disability hearing can take hundreds of days to happen, and after that, you’ll typically wait 45 to 90 days for a decision from the hearing.

Appeals Council Review

If you are still denied benefits after the hearing, you can request an SSA’s Appeals Council review. You can do this online, by mail, or at your local SSA office. To request this review, you’ll need to provide the following:

• SSA notice informing you of their decision
• Name, phone number, and address of your appointed representative, if someone is helping you with your case
• Documents that support your application, including legal documents, forms, and written statements

The Appeals Council will view every request, but if they believe the decision made at your hearing was lawful and warranted, they might deny the request. If they do review your case, they’ll either make the decision on it themselves or have an administrative law judge review it further.

Review By Federal Court

If the Appeals Council doesn’t review your case or they decide you don’t qualify for benefits, the last step would be filing a civil suit in federal district court. This is the only step of the appeal process for Social Security Disability you can’t do online.

The suit would be filed in the judicial district where you live or your principal place of business. There will be a fee for filing this suit. You’ll also need to send the SSA copies (by mail) of the complaint you file and the summons issued by the court.

How to Get Help with the Social Security Disability Process

As you can see, the appeal process for Social Security Disability in Georgia can be quite complex and very frustrating, especially if you keep getting denied at each level. Not only are you having to compile more evidence proving your medical condition and how it disables you, but you must also deal with each rejection and wait a long period of time, often a year or more, before getting an answer.

Hire an Experienced Lawyer to Help You

Because the process can be lengthy and stressful, many applicants will assume a denial is a final answer. But at John Foy & Associates, we believe all workers desire the right to benefits they deserve. As Social Security Disability lawyers, our goal is to get you the benefits you need to support yourself and your family. And we don’t get paid unless we win your case.

Our social security disability lawyers in Georgia can help you: 

• Prove your disability to the SSA.
• Guide you through the complex appeal process.
• Assist you in filing your application for the first time. 
• Answer all of your questions regarding your unique circumstances and how they apply to your case. 

Remember, our goal is to ensure that you get the benefits you’ve paid into your entire career. You shouldn’t have to worry about your financial situation, and you shouldn’t take no for an answer. We won’t let an arbitrary rejection get in the way of your financial security.

 Talk to Our Georgia Social Security Disability Lawyers Today

Research shows having an experienced attorney often increases your chance of approval. That’s because lawyers who understand the process can make changes to your case based on the reasons you got denied and the strength of your application. 

If you are struggling with the appeal process, don’t know where to start, or need help with your initial application, give us a call for a free consultation to go over the details. Call or fill out the form on this page to get started today.