Many people who apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits must appeal to get the benefits they deserve. Applicants often make mistakes when they handle the initial paperwork on their own. They may then require legal assistance as they prepare for the potentially complex appeals process.
There are four different stages of appeals available for SSDI applicants. A reconsideration is the first stage of appeal. It involves another professional employed by the Social Security Administration (SSA) reviewing the application and any supplemental materials or corrections to determine if the initial denial of benefits was inappropriate.
How many applicants obtain benefits through a reconsideration?
Reconsideration has a low success rate
The SSA provides reports that clarify the success rates of SSDI applicants. The report looks at annual data and then provides an average across ten years. When reviewing appeal success rates between 2010 and 2019, the most recent decade with data available, reconsideration has a very low rate of success.
Only approximately 2% of all SSDI applicants get benefits due to a successful reconsideration. The approval rate for hearings in front of an administrative law judge is substantially higher at an annual average of 8%. Even though reconsideration does not have as high of a success rate as a hearing in front of an administrative law judge, it is still helpful for applicants and necessary as part of the overall appeals process.
Working with an attorney can make it easier for SSDI applicants to follow the appropriate procedures and optimize their chances of success when appealing a determination that denies them benefits. A successful SSDI benefits appeal can lead to monthly payments and even a lump-sum payment of backdated benefits.