Millions of people nationwide receive monthly financial assistance through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program overseen by the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, every one of those people had to go through a lengthy and often arduous application process first, and many of them were turned away by the SSA the first time they filed a petition for benefits.
At Thurswell Law, we know that experience gets results and that assistance from our Social Security attorneys may be essential to overcoming your claim denial. When you work with a Michigan SSDI denial lawyer from our team, you maximize your chances of resolving whatever issues led to your claim being rejected and ultimately obtaining the benefits you are seeking.
Common Reasons for SSDI Claim Denials
The SSA initially rejects a majority of the disability claims it receives and awards benefits at the initial claims level to some applicants. While no two claims are exactly alike, some of the more common justifications our Michigan attorneys have seen the SSA use for SSDI claim denials include:
- Missing or insufficient documentation of the applicant’s disability
- Monthly income too high to remain eligible for SSDI, or insufficient proof of low monthly income
- Failure to follow instructions from treating physicians or get treatment at appropriate times
- Typographical errors and omissions in claim forms
- An applicant filing a new application entirely after a previous one was denied
Getting legal assistance early on in the application process can be key to avoiding or mitigating many of these issues. Our attorneys could help you determine why your current petition was rejected and what can be done about it.
What Are the Options for Appealing SSDI Rejections?
The first step in the appeals process following a SSDI claim denial is requesting a reconsideration of your claim from either your local Disability Determination Services if the rejection has to do with your disability status, or from the SSA directly if you have any other grounds for rejection. If reconsideration does not result in the denial being reversed, you can then request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).
If the ALJ does not reverse your denial or send your case back to the SSA for further review, you can request yet another review from the SSA Appeals Council. Finally, the last resort if the Appeals Council also rules against you is a request for federal court review, but this is a fairly extreme measure with relatively low odds of success. Our SSDI denial lawyers in Michigan could further explain all these stages of the appeals process and what you will need to do at each of them during a private initial meeting.
Speak With Our Michigan Attorneys About an SSDI Denial Today
Receiving a rejection letter from the SSA can be an immensely upsetting experience, especially if you were depending on the Social Security benefits you applied for to help you cover daily expenses after sustaining a serious disability. However, you should know that a single denial is not necessarily the end of your claim altogether, and you may have various options for appealing that denial. Our compassionate legal team could help you take full advantage of these.
A Michigan SSDI denial lawyer from our firm is ready to help you understand your rights and review your case with you. Call today and schedule a confidential consultation for guidance on your next steps.
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