How to Appeal a Social Security Disability Medical Review in Kansas
- 1). Act quickly. According to Social Security Administration, or SSA, procedures, you only have 60 days after you receive a SSI denial letter to initiate an appeal in writing.
- 2). Fill out the disability appeals request form on the Social Security website. Fully state your grounds for contesting the original decision. Include any medical documentation relevant to establishing the severity and permanence of your disability and your inability to work. You will need the claimant's Social Security number and you should already have a letter notifying the claimant of the denial of benefits.
- 3). Fill out the disability report, which is part 2 of the disability appeals request form. This form is optional, though SSA officials encourage you to include it. This form details your medical condition and history, including any changes to your condition since your original request. You should include the names and contact information of any physicians, clinics or other heath care professionals you have seen for issues pertaining to your disability, as well as any prescription drugs and dosages you are taking.
- 4). Attend a hearing, if required. There are four levels to the appeal process. The first level, reconsideration, does not generally require the claimant to be present, as it is simply a records review by a disinterested party. Subsequent levels of appeals generally involve the claimants' presence, unless compelling reasons prevent your attendance. The next level is a hearing by an administrative law judge. The SSA generally holds hearings within 75 miles of the claimants' home.
- 5). Request an appeal to the Social Security Appeals Council. The SSA will assist you if you are dissatisfied with the decision the judge reached in the administrative hearing. You can request the appeals council hearing in writing through the SSA office that is handling your case. This is the final level of appeal within the Social Security System. If your appeal fails at this level, your only recourse is to file a lawsuit in federal courts.
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