July 11, 2026If the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies your disability application, you may be able to continue the process and ultimately obtain benefits if you file a Social Security disability appeal. Generally, you first request reconsideration, where a different SSA examiner reviews your application. If that examiner also denies your claim, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). To know what stage your application is in, identify the most recent step you completed. You go through reconsideration before you request a hearing.
The Law Offices of Jennifer R. Solomon is a practice focused on disability benefits, offering invaluable insights into the disability benefits process as we guide you through it. Jennifer Solomon founded the firm in 2010 after spending nearly a decade representing insurance companies, an experience that has given her valuable insight into how insurers actually handle disability claims. We combine meticulous preparation with personalized advocacy to help clients across California develop strong disability claims, from initial application through appeal.
If you are disabled, previously worked and contributed to Social Security, and need assistance to make ends meet, you can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Unfortunately, SSA often denies initial applications, even strong ones. As a result, many applicants who ultimately qualify for disability benefits must appeal before SSA approves their claims.
That process typically involves:
If you still do not convince SSA you are eligible for benefits, you can appeal to the Appeals Council or even a federal court unaffiliated with SSA to continue the process.
Reconsideration and appeal are complicated legal processes that can be difficult to navigate without legal training. As a result, even applicants who completed their initial applications without an attorney often choose to work with a Social Security disability attorney during the appeals process. An attorney can help develop medical evidence, address the reasons SSA denied your claim, and prepare your case for each stage of review.
If SSA denies your initial application, you can ask it to reconsider its decision. During reconsideration, a different disability examiner—someone not involved in assessing your application the first time—reviews your claim using both the evidence you originally submitted and any new evidence you add after making the reconsideration request. That examiner decides whether the evidence now establishes that you qualify for disability benefits.
Before the disability examiner issues a new decision, you have an opportunity to strengthen your claim. Many applicants submit updated treatment records, additional diagnostic testing, physician opinions, or other evidence that was unavailable when they filed their initial applications during the reconsideration stage. An experienced disability attorney can help identify gaps in the record and present evidence that directly addresses the reasons for SSA’s initial denial.
After reviewing the paperwork and information you submit, the disability examiner either approves or denies your application. If the examiner approves your claim, SSA begins processing your disability benefits, including any back benefits you qualify to receive. If the examiner denies your claim again, you may continue your social security disability appeal by requesting a hearing before an ALJ.
The answer depends on SSA’s workload, the complexity of your claim, and how quickly medical providers submit updated records. In many cases, reconsideration takes several months, although individual timelines vary.
Many applicants search for signs that you won your SSDI reconsideration while waiting for a decision. Unfortunately, SSA rarely indicates how it will decide your claim before issuing its written determination.
While your claim is pending, SSA may ask you to verify information, provide additional documentation, or update your records. Although these requests show that SSA is actively processing your claim, they do not reliably predict whether the disability examiner will approve or deny benefits. The only reliable indication that you won your reconsideration is a written notice from SSA approving your disability claim.
During a hearing, you also have an opportunity to answer a judge’s questions and orally explain how your condition affects your ability to work. When you request a hearing with an ALJ, you often work with your attorney to submit updated medical evidence, prepare your testimony, and address issues that contributed to the earlier denials.
Before the hearing, the ALJ reviews your claim file, including all evidence you provided to SSA during the initial application process. During the hearing, the judge asks questions about your medical condition, treatment, work history, daily activities, and functional limitations. Depending on the issues in your case, vocational experts or medical experts may also testify.
Your attorney helps prepare you for the hearing, presents evidence supporting your claim, questions witnesses when appropriate, and explains how your circumstances mean you satisfy Social Security’s disability requirements.
After the hearing, the ALJ issues a written decision approving or denying your claim. If the judge approves your claim, SSA begins processing your disability benefits. If the judge denies your claim, you may continue the SSDI appeal process by asking the Appeals Council to review the judge’s decision.
You can identify the stage your appeal is in by looking at the most recent decision SSA made. If you submitted an initial application that SSA denied and then asked SSA to review it a second time, your claim is in the reconsideration stage, where a different disability examiner reviews it.
If that second examiner denies your application after reconsideration and you request review by an ALJ, your claim is in the hearing stage. There, the judge reviews your claim independently and decides whether you qualify for disability benefits.
If SSA denies your disability application, the Law Offices of Jennifer R. Solomon can help you continue to pursue benefits. We represent clients throughout California during initial applications, reconsideration, administrative law judge hearings, and later stages of the appeals process.
Whether you are requesting reconsideration or preparing for a hearing, we can help you present the strongest case possible for the disability benefits you need. Reach out to learn more.
To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal resources during the content development process:
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