Are you surprised to learn that the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies more claims than it approves? This means that if you have an SSA claim denied, you do not need to panic – there are ways to appeal your denial. However, you cannot wait to act. Keep reading to learn why it can be such a huge mistake to wait to file and then contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 if you need assistance.
Generally Speaking, You Will Have Just 60 Days to File an Appeal
While some cases are different, you generally will have 60 days from your date of denial to file an appeal. If you do not file an appeal within the timeframe that the SSA mandated, then you are not out of options, but you will have to start the process over at the beginning. Depending on the timing, this could result in losing the right to the assistance you need to pay your medical costs and living expenses.
Read Your Denial Letter Carefully
If you are denied benefits, the first thing to do is to read your denial right away. Toward the end of the letter, you will see how many days you have to appeal your case after the date they list on the letter. As we said, 60 days is the typical time, but it might vary.
There are two pieces of information in the letter that are most important. First, the date you must appeal by, and second the steps you must take to file that appeal. Remember that the deadline starts not on the day you receive the letter but on the date listed in the denial letter. For example, if the date reads April 1st and you do not get the letter until April 9th, you then only have 51 days to appeal.
Several Things Could Happen if You Wait Too Long
There are many reasons you do not want to wait to file your appeal. First, the information included in your original request might no longer be valid. This could include medical information that has become outdated, back pay that is no longer accurately figured, or a change in your treatment regimen.
The SSA will only make a decision if they have the most recent medical information. If you file an appeal immediately after receiving your denial, you are not likely to have issues with this. On the other hand, if you wait 60 days, your present medical information is not likely to still be relevant.
The good news is that you are not in this alone. Contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 if you need help preparing a response to an SSA denial.
