SUBMIT DISABILITY EVIDENCE EARLY

There is usually a wait of several months to obtain a hearing after a Social Security disability appeal is filed.  However, there are plenty of reasons to submit all your evidence in the case as early as possible.

I recently appealed a Social Security decision and asked for a hearing.  I filed the request for hearing in September in the routine manner.  In December the case was reviewed and approved without a hearing.  The appeal was thus resolved in less than 90 days and my client received a back pay settlement before Christmas! 

It doesn't always happen that way, obviously, but when there is plenty of evidence, it is always best if you can submit it right away.  In fact, I find there are at least two advantages to submitting medical evidence early:

One, it provides a more likely opportunity for an early review of the case.  Two, it gives the representative or attorney an opportunity to write a thorough brief for the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR).

This also points out how many mistakes are made in the initial disability determination process.  When ODAR can review an unfavorable decision and overturn it within 90 days, it was a bad decision to begin with and should never have been denied.  So, always appeal unfavorable decisions.

Often, the early bird gets the.....review!

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