Social Security Disability Appeals Process continued

(Click here for Levels 1 & 2)

Level Three

After a refusal of benefits at the reconsideration level (level two), you have 60 more days to ask for a hearing or "second appeal."

At your appeal hearing, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) will create another opinion based on the proof offered before him or her. Somewhere around 20 days before your hearing, you will be notified by mail of the time, date and location of your hearing. The Social Security Administration attempts to keep the hearing location within 75 miles of where you reside. You and your representative (if you have one) must go to the hearing. Your representative could be a friend, Social Security Advocate or, preferably, a Social Security disability lawyer who is experienced in Social Security disability law and court procedure.

You will need to deliver any proof of your disability and other, possibly new, supporting evidence to the judge as soon as possible. During your hearing the judge will listen to your testimony and may question any witnesses you brought. The ALJ has the right to ask other witnesses (such as specialist experts) questions to get details regarding your application. You will respond to queries under oath, so you must tell the truth. Your Social Security disability lawyer may also question witnesses, submit evidence and fight for your claim. The ALJ will make a determination, then you and your Social Security disability lawyer will be informed of the choice.

In some cases, your attorney will ask for a determination on the record, which means the ALJ reviews your application and provides a decision based on the paperwork submitted without holding an actual hearing.

Please get in touch with the knowledgeable SSDI legal professionals at The Cochran Firm Disability Lawyers today to request a FREE disability evaluation. Simply fill out the form on this page. Let us help you get the SSDI benefits for which you are eligible. We have many offices in Atlanta and throughout the U.S. with regional, knowledgeable Social Security disability lawyers, and we can help you the same way we’ve assisted thousands of other families across the nation and around Atlanta, Georgia.

SSDI Level Four

If you are declined Social Security disability benefits at level three, the hearing level, you can appeal your application once more within 60 days of receipt of the Administrative Law Judge’s decision. At this level of the process, you can ask for an evaluation by the Appeals Council. The Appeals Council will review the disability hearing determination performed in level three and decide if it was the proper choice according to law. You must know that only 3% of level three applicants receive an attractive outcome during level four. According to recent data released by the Social Security Administration, the normal delay time for a determination on the third appeal is about 230 days.

If you have become incapable and are unable to work to provide for you and/or your family, it is prudent to have a knowledgeable Social Security disability lawyer helping you fight for your benefits. The Social Security disability lawyers at The Cochran Firm Disability Lawyers have assisted thousands of people just like you to get the settlement they deserved. Please fill out a form on this page and request your FREE Social Security disability evaluation. There are Cochran Firm Disability Lawyers Social Security disability attorneys in Atlanta, Georgia.

Level Five

Less than one percent of SSDI candidates ever make it to level five of the process: Federal District Court (FDC). Somewhere around 30% of the applicants that arrive at this level are approved. A very small portion of applicants at the FDC level receive a favorable award because in most cases, the Federal District Court sends the applicant back to the hearing level for a second hearing instead of ruling directly.

Granting of Social Security Disability Benefits

If your benefits are granted, the guideline for actually receiving your payment is:

• Two to four weeks for benefits granted at level one and level two
• One to three months for benefits granted at levels three and four.

Remember, these are guidelines and your specific case may vary.

A challenging method is used to calculate what you will get. Your per month payment is determined by your life-time income. The best way to get a close estimate of your benefit award is to ask the Social Security Administration or use one of their disability benefits calculators.

After Social Security Disability Benefits Are Awarded

Your qualifications for SSDI benefits will be reviewed occasionally. These reviews are generally performed at one, three, five or seven years. For example, if you have a disability that is predicted to improve, your benefits will be re-evaluated around time the condition was predicted to be improved. If the condition is predicted to last indefinitely the re-evaluation may be performed randomly at one of the intervals above.

Please fill out a form on this page right away to get in touch with the knowledgeable SSDI legal professionals at The Cochran Firm Disability Lawyers to request a FREE disability evaluation. Let us help you get the Social Security disability insurance benefits for which you are eligible. We have offices throughout the United States including an office in Atlanta. We can help you the same way we’ve assisted thousands of other people across the nation. Our local Social Security disability lawyers in Atlanta, Georgia are waiting for you to fill out the form today!

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