Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a program that helps working adults who become unable to continue their jobs due to medical issues. The Social Security Administration (SSA) can award benefits to applicants with long-lasting, disabling medical conditions if they have made enough contributions to the SSA before applying.
Most people don’t apply for SSDI benefits until they experience some kind of severe medical hardship, but applications are still subject to rigorous review and scrutiny. Many people who might qualify for benefits initially get turned down and have to appeal the decision against them. If the SSA rejected your SSDI application, then a case review could potentially help you get the benefits that you need.
What is an SSDI case review?
If you appeal a denied SSDI benefits application, there are numerous stages of appeal available to you. The first is a reconsideration. Once you know why the SSA rejected your application, you can address mistakes in the application or submit additional medical records.
The SSA can then have someone not involved in the original decision review your application and any supplementary materials or corrections you have since provided. A case review is a form of reconsideration that involves an SSA employee going over your application and supplementary materials without ever meeting with you. This is the standard process for reconsideration involving a medical determination.
If the SSA employee reviewing your application decides the original rejection was a mistake or your corrections have addressed the issue that led to the denial, then you will be done with the appeals process. If they decide against you, then you can move on to the next stage, which will involve a hearing before an administrative law judge.
Reconsideration is more than a mere formality
Although only a small percentage of reconsiderations result in a change in the decision made by the SSA, it is still an important part of the appeals process. Even if it is not successful, it gives you an opportunity to update what information the SSA has and improve the medical documentation and other evidence for your claim.
Appealing when you’ve been denied SSDI benefits can be a lengthy and tedious process, but it can help you get the support that you need.