Hearing Decision

You will receive a letter in the mail explaining the Hearing Decision. If you disagree with the decision, you may start a new application or request an Appeals Council Review. You could also do both simultaneously. If you disagree with the Appeals Council decision,...

File Appeal: Request for Hearing

The second appeal is called a ‘Request for Hearing’ and at this point your file is sent to the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) where an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) will review your file and schedule a hearing. During that hearing, an ALJ will...

File Appeal: Request for Reconsideration

After the ‘Request for Reconsideration’ is filed, a different person at DDS will review your claim and make their own determination. If you disagree with their decision, you have 60 days from the date of the denial letter to file your appeal.

SSA Denies

After the claim is reviewed by Disability Determination Services (DDS) they may approve or deny your claim. If you disagree with their decision, you have 60 days from the date of the denial letter to file your appeal.

Apply for Social Security Benefits

You can file for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) online or at your local Social Security Administration (SSA) Office. You must file for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) through a Social SecurityOffice by phone or in person.