Any readers who follow this Oklahoma Social Security Disability benefits blog know that seeking support due to a disabling physical or mental condition is no easy task. The process of apply for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income is lengthy and can require copious amounts of medical evidence. Even when a person builds a strong case for disability benefits they may at first have their application denied by the Social Security Administration.
The first step in appealing a denied Social Security Disability benefits application is to request “reconsideration.” Requests to have applications reconsidered must be filed with 60 days of the applicants’ receiving notice that their initial applications were denied. Reconsideration puts the evidence an applicant submitted in their application in front of a different reviewer than the one who performed the first assessment, to see if they come up with a different result.
The reconsideration reviewer may look at an applicant’s full application as well as any new evidence that they submit for the reconsideration process. Based on that information, reconsideration may overturn a denial or may approve it. If reconsideration does not yield disability benefits for an applicant they may choose to advance their appeal to the next level of review.
Past posts on this blog have discussed the lengthy process appeals for disability benefits can impose on individuals. One of the best ways to avoid this occurrence is to provide the Social Security Administration with a complete application upon its first submission for disability benefits.