Posted By Golson, McCracken Inc. || 6-Oct-2014

The Social Security Appeals Council is the third level of review for denied SSD claims following reconsideration and a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) after the initial denial. As with a hearing, an individual will only have 60 days from the time he or she receives a decision from the ALJ to send a written request for review to the Appeals Council. The purpose of the Appeals Council is not to determine the validity of a Social Security claim, but to determine whether an error was made by the ALJ who denied the claim.

There are only a few Appeals Council offices where requests for review can be made. Each request will be reviewed by the Appeals Council, however there are instances when an individual’s case may be sent to another ALJ for a more in-depth review of any alleged errors. The volume of requests, along with the propensity for additional information being required, are what often contribute to the length of time it takes to get a decision from the Appeals Council.

In this type of a situation we emphatically advise you retain representation from one of our North Carolina Social Security Disability advocates as soon as possible after your ALJ denial. We will have one of our knowledgeable team members review the denial, advise you as to whether we believe errors have been made and if so, help you take the steps necessary to make your request to the Appeals Council.

Submitting a timely request for review, and attaching evidence and documentation to affirm your claim, with concise arguments to support the request will not only increase your chances of success in your appeal, but also allow the Appeals Council to readily determine whether review is merited. Having an experienced representative to advocate on your behalf can also help streamline the process and increase your chances of getting your appeal approved without an unnecessary delay. Call Golson, McCracken Inc. today to find out more about the services we offer or to inquire about getting assistance in your pursuit of SSD benefits.