What is a Social Security disability Reconsideration?
Social Security disability claimants whose initial applications for disability are denied have 60 days from receipt of denial to file an appeal, and that first appeal is called a Request for Reconsideration.
Reconsideration takes on average about 90 days, and only 15% of reconsideration appeals are granted. However, reconsideration is a necessary step before the hearing level, where 55% of appeals are granted.
At reconsideration a different team of disability examiners will evaluate your claim. The SSA will not make a medical determination at this level. That determination does not occur until after the second appeal and a hearing is held.
More information is available at:
The disability evaluation process
- Answers to 8 common questions
- Examples of who is and who is not disabled
- The sequential evaluation process
- A large bureaucracy
- Glossary
Disability appeals
