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Home :: FAQ :: Basic Questions Social Security Disability

If I get turned down, how do I appeal my initial Unfavorable Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Special Veterans Benefit (SVB) decision?

There are three different ways to appeal.  You can pick the appeal that fits your case.  You can have a lawyer, friend, or someone else help you with your appeal.

  1. Case Review:

    You can give us more facts to add to your file.  Then the SSA will decide your case again.  You don’t meet with the person who decides your case.  You can pick this kind of appeal in all cases.

  1. Informal Conference:

    You’ll meet with the person who will decide your case.  You can tell that person why you think you’re right.  You can give the SSA more facts to help prove you’re right.  You can bring other people to help explain your case. You can pick this kind of appeal in all SSI cases except two.  You can’t have it if the SSA turned down your SSI application for medical reasons or because you’re not blind.  Also you can’t have it if the SSA is giving you SSI but you disagree with the date they said you became blind or disabled.  In SVB cases, you can pick this kind of appeal only if the SSA is stopping or lowering your SVB payment.

  1. Formal Conference:

    This is a meeting like an informal conference.  Plus, the SSA can make people come to help prove you’re right.  The SSA can do this even if they don’t want to help you.  You can question these people at your meeting.  You can pick this kind of appeal only if the SSA is stopping or lowering your SSI or SVB payment.  You can’t get it in any other case.

Now you know the three kinds of appeals.  You can pick the one that fits your case.  Then fill out your “Request for Reconsideration” form.  The SSA will help you fill it out if you ask.

There are groups that can help you with your appeal.  The SSA can give you the names of these groups or attorneys to help with your appeal.  This is what we do at Mike Murburg, PA. and Disabilityattorney.net

NOTE: DON’T FILL OUT A “REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION” IF THE SSA SAID THEY’LL STOP YOUR DISABILITY CHECK FOR MEDICAL REASONS OR BECAUSE YOU’RE NO LONGER BLIND.  THE SSA WILL GIVE YOU THE RIGHT FORM (SSA-789-U4) FOR YOUR APPEAL.