Reconsideration
The same office reviews your file again. Success rates are low because nothing new is added unless someone adds it. That is the part we do.
SSDI & SSI Appeals · Nationwide
Your denial letter has a date on it. That date is a deadline.
Social Security gives you 60 days to appeal. Enter the date on your letter and we'll tell you exactly how many days you have left — and what to do with them.
We file the appeal for you
No fee unless you win
All 50 states
Interactive · Deadline checker
How long do you have left?
Look at the top right of the letter. Not the date you opened it — the date it was written.
Call an advocate now
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days left to appeal
Social Security allows 60 days from the date on the notice, plus 5 days for mail. This is a guide, not legal advice — confirm your exact deadline with us.
60 days
To appeal from the date on your denial notice
~13%
Succeed at reconsideration — the stage most people face next
~50%
Approval rate at a hearing before a judge, per SSA published averages
$0
Owed by you unless benefits are awarded
Fastest route
An appeal takes ten minutes to start over the phone.
Have your denial letter in front of you if you can. If you can't find it, call anyway — we can look up where your claim stands.
(888) 721-8630Mon–Fri · Free · No obligation
The appeal ladder
Where your claim goes next.
A denial is not the end of the process — it is the start of the next stage. Each one has its own 60-day clock.
Hearing before a judge
Where most awards happen. A vocational expert testifies about what work you could do — someone needs to cross-examine them.
Appeals Council
Reviews whether the judge applied the rules correctly. Written argument, no new hearing.
Federal court
The final route. Rare, and requires an attorney. We tell you honestly if your case reaches this point.
Straight talk
Why second denials happen.
Most people appeal by ticking a box and waiting. The file goes back unchanged, so the answer comes back unchanged.
×Filing the appeal with nothing newSame evidence, same file, same examiner. There is no reason for the outcome to change.
×Missing the 60-day windowMiss it and you usually start over from zero, losing months of back pay.
×Gaps in medical treatmentIf there is no record of treatment, Social Security reads it as no ongoing condition.
×Describing symptoms, not limits"My back hurts" scores nothing. "Cannot sit more than 20 minutes" is what gets measured.
×Doctors who never got askedA treating physician's statement carries weight — but only if someone requests it properly.
×Working above the earnings limitEarning over the monthly threshold can sink a claim regardless of your condition.
Start your appeal
Four questions. Then we call you.
No documents needed. An advocate reviews your answers and rings you back — usually the same business day.
We check your exact deadline first
Your information is never sold
Don't want to wait?
(888) 721-8630
Question 1 of 4
About 90 seconds
Which letter did you receive?
Pick the one that matches your most recent decision.
How long ago was the letter dated?
A rough idea is fine — we'll confirm the exact date on the call.
Are you working at the moment?
Be honest — it changes the advice, not our willingness to help.
Where should the advocate call you?
One call. We'll tell you on the call whether we can take it.
Please enter your first name.
Please enter your last name.
Enter a 10-digit US phone number.
Please choose your state.
Enter a valid email address.
Encrypted and reviewed by an advocate. Never sold.
APPEAL
STARTED
STARTED
Got it. Now let's not waste your clock.
An advocate has your answers. The fastest thing you can do right now is call — you'll skip the queue and we can check your exact deadline while you're on the line.
Call (888) 721-8630 nowSSDI denial appeal
Denied SSDI? What to do next, and how the appeal process works.
If your Social Security disability claim was denied, you can appeal the disability denial. Most denied disability claims are decided again at a later stage, and the steps below are the Social Security disability appeal process in order.
- Read the denial letter and note the date.You generally have 60 days (plus 5 days for mail) to appeal the Social Security denial.
- Request reconsideration.A different examiner reviews your file. Disability reconsideration help matters here: new medical evidence is what changes the answer.
- Ask for a hearing before a judge.If reconsideration is denied, you can request a hearing. Disability hearing representation lets an advocate present your case and question the experts.
- Appeals Council and federal court.Later stages exist if the hearing decision is wrong. We tell you honestly whether going further makes sense.
Not sure what to do if your SSDI was denied? Disabilift gives SSDI appeal assistance by phone in all 50 states: we can help with appealing a disability denial, reconsideration, and representation at a disability hearing. There is no fee unless you win. Disabilift is a private advocacy firm and is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration.
Appeal questions
What people ask after a denial.
My 60 days have already passed. Is it over?
Not necessarily. Social Security can accept a late appeal if you show good cause — serious illness, a death in the family, a letter that never arrived, or incorrect information from the agency itself. It has to be explained properly and in writing. Call us before you assume you have to start again from scratch.
What should I do if my SSDI is denied?
Appeal rather than starting over in most cases. File a request for reconsideration within 60 days of the date on your denial letter, and add any medical evidence that was missing. An advocate can help with the disability appeal process and tell you which records will make the difference.
Can you represent me at a disability hearing?
Yes. We provide disability hearing representation: we prepare your file, submit evidence before the deadline, appear with you by phone, video or in person, and question the vocational and medical experts. The fee only comes from back pay if you win.
Should I appeal, or just file a new application?
Usually appeal. Filing fresh restarts the clock and can cost you months of back pay tied to your original onset date. There are narrow situations where a new claim makes more sense — we'll tell you which one you're in rather than guessing.
What does it cost?
Nothing upfront and nothing if you lose. If your appeal succeeds, the representative fee comes out of your past-due benefits and is capped by federal law at 25% of back pay, up to a maximum the Social Security Administration sets each year. Your ongoing monthly payments are never touched.
How long will the appeal take?
Reconsideration commonly takes several months. If it goes to a hearing, the wait depends heavily on your local hearing office — some under a year, some closer to two. We can tell you the current average for your office when you call.
Can you take over an appeal I already filed?
Yes. If you filed yourself and it's still pending, we can be appointed as your representative and add evidence before the decision is made. That is often the point where a case turns.
Are you part of the Social Security Administration?
No. Disabilift is a private advocacy firm. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Social Security Administration or any government agency. You may appeal on your own, free of charge, at ssa.gov.
One call · No cost · No obligation
Every day you wait is a day off your clock.
Tell us the date on your letter and we'll tell you where you stand in about two minutes.
(888) 721-8630