Official: You can't let this Social Security news slip by, all of America is watching

Social Security in the United States recognizes something essential: if your benefits are denied, you have the right to appeal. The Social Security Administration (SSA) confirms this directly. The process is detailed, important, and involves figures you should know.

This often happens due to technical errors or lack of solid medical documentation. For example, your application may fail because you don't have enough work credits, your income exceeds the threshold, or you didn't provide enough medical evidence. SSA is unaware of your condition or believes you can still work.

The SSA Gives You the Opportunity to Appeal if Your Application Is Denied: Claim Your Benefits

If you receive a negative decision, you can start your appeal within 60 days. SSA offers different ways to appeal to defend your rights, and the first step is called "reconsideration," where a different examiner reviews your case. The figures vary, but only between 13% and 15% of cases are approved. If they don't rule in your favor, you can take the next step.

The second step is the hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). Here you have the right to present new medical reports, witnesses, or experts. In this phase, the success rate rises significantly: between 49% and 58% of appealed cases are approved.

If the judge rules against you, you can send an appeal to SSA's Appeals Council. There, they review whether there were legal errors, but they don't accept new evidence. Only about 1% to 2% of cases are reversed at this stage.

Finally, if SSA keeps the denial, you can go to a federal court. However, winning there is less common and usually takes a long time. Only a small percentage—less than 2%—receive benefits at this last stage. 

How to Appeal? SSA Tells You How to Do It

Each stage requires submitting new forms and evidence. The rights include requesting reconsideration, hearings, review by the council, and reaching the court. It's vital to document your medical condition, income, work history, and any treatment received.

The figures show remarkable success if you persist: In reconsideration, about 13–15% are accepted; at the hearing, the percentage rises to between 49% and 58%; and at the Appeals Council, only one or two out of every hundred appeals are usually reversed.

In total, almost half of those who appeal at administrative stages eventually receive their benefits. This is justified because at the hearing, the applicant can present new evidence, witnesses, and argue in person, which strengthens the case.

Why Is It Crucial to Appeal?

If you don't do it and reapply later, you could lose retroactivity and delayed benefits. Appealing guarantees the right to review and allows you to obtain back payments from your initial application.

SSA advertises this procedure on its website and emphasizes the deadlines for appealing and the different stages. Recently, they highlighted that everyone has 60 days to start and that they can submit additional evidence at hearings.