It is far from uncommon to have an application for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) rejected by the Social Security Administration (SSA)—in fact, the SSA’s own statistics show that claim denials are more common than acceptances by a substantial margin. However, it is also not rare for the SSA to reconsider and reverse its initial rejection of a claim once the person who submitted it appeals.
Either way, you will likely need help from a seasoned Reno SSDI denial lawyer if you want to handle this type of setback in the most proactive and effective way possible. From determining the exact reason(s) why your claim was rejected to tirelessly advocating for your rights during hearings and court proceedings, our dedicated SSDI attorneys at Shook & Stone can be irreplaceable allies from start to finish of this process.
Can You Get an SSDI Denial Resolved Without an Appeal?
It is not always necessary to seek help from a judge or the SSA’s Appeals Council to get an SSDI claim denial in Reno overturned. In some situations, it is possible to address the issue at the heart of a claim rejection simply by submitting an updated application with minor errors or omissions fixed, or by providing additional documentation to establish that you meet the criteria the SSA has established for SSDI eligibility.
Furthermore, the first step of the actual appeals process for an SSDI denial is not technically an appeal at all but rather a “request for reconsideration.” This request will result in the Disability Determination Services (DDS) section of the SSA taking a second look at your application, as well as any new evidence you submit to them. A well-practiced Reno SSDI denial attorney can explain how this stage of the process works in more detail and offer crucial help when preparing for it.
How to Formally Appeal an SSDI Claim Rejection
If reconsideration by the DDS does not end with a favorable outcome for you, you can continue appealing your SSDI denial by requesting a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). This Judge is an attorney and employee of the Office of Hearings Operation (OHO) within the SSA. They will consider both existing materials and evidence presented at the hearing they will schedule for the appellant to decide whether to overturn a claim denial.
If the ALJ still rejects the claim, the next step is to request a review by the Appeals Council, which selects petitions randomly to review legal or procedural errors that made previous steps in the claim review process unjust. Finally, it is possible to progress an unfavorable decision from the Appeals Council to a U.S. District Court and even to the U.S. Supreme Court. However, this can be a prohibitively time-consuming and expensive endeavor that all but requires support from an experienced SSDI denial lawyer in Reno.
Seek Help from a Reno SSDI Denial Attorney
SSDI claim rejections are always hard to stomach, especially if you are dealing with a serious disability that prevents you from working and interferes significantly with your personal life. You should not lose hope from just one denial, though, as you likely have several rights for contesting that decision—which our skilled attorneys could help you take full advantage of.
A Reno SSDI denial lawyer at Shook & Stone could discuss your unique circumstances and offer preliminary guidance about the next steps during a free, confidential consultation. Schedule yours by calling today.
