Denied Disability

Your Opportunities to Appeal Your Claim

When you’re denied Social Security Disability benefits in Ohio, you have several chances to argue for a reversal of the decision:

• Reconsideration: In this step, you can get someone new at Social Security to review your application and ask them to overturn the first decision that denied your benefits.
• Administrative law judge (ALJ) hearing:If reconsideration doesn’t change your result, you can go to a hearing with a disability judge. This is an important chance to argue your case in person. Your hearing may be where you have the best odds of being awarded benefits.
• Appeals Council review:If the judge denies your benefits, you can ask a group at Social Security called the Appeals Council to review the judge’s decision. You’ll file arguments about why you think the judge made a mistake. The Council could send your claim back to the judge for a new hearing.
• Federal court review:If the Appeals Council declines to overturn the judge or order a new hearing, your last step is filing a lawsuit against Social Security in federal court. You’ll send materials to the federal judge arguing that the Social Security system made a legal error. The judge could send your case back for another hearing, deny your claim or award you benefits.

When you’re fighting a disability denial, it’s important to get experienced legal representation. Appeals are complicated and difficult. Don’t face it alone.

In fact, a US Government Accountability Office report found people are nearly three times more likely to be awarded benefits after their disability hearings if they have a representative with them.

A disability attorney from HNB Law can help you understand your options for appealing a denial or reapplying for benefits. We’ll provide an initial evaluation of your claim for free.