Denied Social Security – What Should I Do?

If you were recently injured in an accident and then denied Social Security disability benefits, what should you do next?

According to the Social Security Administration, the allowance rate for applicants has hovered around 22% for the past two decades. Therefore, if you have been denied, you are not alone.

But, what comes next? Follow these steps to start you on the appeal journey:

• Check the deadline for appeal (this is very important). You have only 60 days to appeal a denial. If you miss the deadline, you will need to start again.
• Decide what type of appeal you want to pursue. You can request a Reconsideration or a Hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.
• Although you can do the appeal yourself, you may want to consult an attorney.
• But won’t an attorney be expensive?
  • Attorney Fees are set by the Social Security Administration at 25% of any back benefits that you receive following a successful appeal, but capped at $6,000. This means that if, for example, you receive $4,000 in back benefits the lawyer will be paid $1,
    000. However, if you receive $30,000 in back benefits the lawyer will still only receive $6,000.
• Again, won’t an attorney be expensive… that sounds like a lot of money?
  • The attorney must help you successfully win your appeal before they are paid. And an experienced attorney will increase your chance of success.

So if you have been denied social security benefits but believe you are entitled to disability, call an experienced attorney for a consultation.