SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL PROCESS: WHAT IF YOU ARE DENIED?
75 percent of Social Security disability claims are denied and require an immediate appeal. Here is what the claimant, or claimant's representative, must do: Submit a written notice of appeal to the Social Security office within 60 days. Telephone conversations do not count. You should use form HA-501, available from Social Security. Review the medical evidence in your Social Security file to make sure it is complete. Add additional or missing medical records as soon as possible. Decide if you are willing to accept a hearing by video teleconference or if you want an in-person hearing. If you wish to opt out of a video hearing, notify Social Security in writing within 60 days of filing your appeal (but after they have notified you that they have received your filing). As you continue to see doctors or other medical providers (while wait for a hearing to be scheduled) obtain these detailed medical files and submit them to the Office of Disability Adju...