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No-win, no-fee — you pay nothing unless approved
If your SSI claim was denied, the clock is already running. You have 60 days from the date of your denial notice to file for reconsideration — missing this deadline typically means starting the entire process over and losing any back pay you would have been owed from your original application date. A denial is not the end of your case. National Disability connects denied SSI applicants across all 50 states with experienced disability attorneys who fight for approval at every stage of the appeals process. All services are provided on a no-win, no-fee basis. You pay nothing unless your claim is approved.
You have 60 days from the date on your denial letter — plus 5 days for mailing — to file for reconsideration. Missing this deadline means starting over from scratch and losing back pay from your original application date. If you have received a denial, contact us today.
Your denial letter will identify the specific reason your claim was rejected. Most SSI denials fall into one of these categories — and most are fixable on appeal:
The SSA requires detailed, consistent documentation establishing both your diagnosis and its impact on your ability to function. Gaps in treatment, outdated records, or vague physician statements are the most common denial trigger.
SSI has strict financial thresholds. If your countable income or resources appear to exceed SSA limits — even due to a reporting error or misclassification of excluded assets — your claim will be denied.
The SSA must be convinced your condition prevents all substantial gainful activity. Without strong functional limitation documentation — including how your condition affects daily activities and work capacity — this standard is difficult to meet.
If your records show you have not followed prescribed treatment without a documented valid reason — such as cost, side effects, or religious objection — the SSA may determine your condition is not as limiting as claimed.
Missing fields, unsigned forms, incorrect dates, or inconsistencies between your application and medical records can result in a denial that has nothing to do with whether you actually qualify.
Your condition must be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. Conditions that may improve or that lack documented prognosis are frequently denied regardless of current severity.
Your SSA denial letter is the most important document in your appeal. It contains:
The SSA is required to explain exactly why your claim was denied — whether it was a medical determination, a financial eligibility issue, or a technical problem with your application. This reason tells you exactly what needs to be addressed in your appeal.
The letter will state the date by which you must file for reconsideration. You have 60 days from the date on the letter plus 5 days for mailing. Do not miss this date.
The letter outlines your right to appeal and the stages available to you. It also explains your right to request that your SSI payments continue during the appeal if you were previously receiving benefits and they were terminated.
Our team reviews denial letters at no cost to identify the specific issues and the strongest path forward for your appeal.
The SSI appeals process has four stages. Most successful claims are won at the ALJ hearing — but you must file for reconsideration first to preserve your right to appeal.
A different SSA examiner reviews your original file along with any new evidence you submit. Must be filed within 60 days of your denial. Most reconsiderations are also denied — but filing is required to preserve your right to an ALJ hearing.
You present your case before an Administrative Law Judge. This is where most successful SSI appeals are won. Approval rates are significantly higher at this stage — and experienced legal representation makes the biggest difference.
If the ALJ denies your claim, the Appeals Council may review the decision, send it back to an ALJ, or deny review. This stage focuses on legal arguments and errors in the ALJ’s decision rather than new evidence.
If all administrative appeals are exhausted, you may file a civil action in federal district court. This stage requires experienced legal representation and focuses on whether the SSA’s decision was legally sound.
The reconsideration stage is your first opportunity to strengthen your claim with new evidence. Depending on the reason for your denial, this may include:
Our attorneys work with you to identify exactly what evidence is missing and gather it before your reconsideration deadline.
If your SSI claim is approved on appeal, you may be entitled to back pay dating to your original application date. This is one of the most important reasons to appeal rather than reapply — reapplying resets your filing date and eliminates back pay from the original application period. The longer your case has been pending, the more back pay you may be owed. Our attorneys account for back pay in every case we handle.
National Disability connects denied SSI applicants with experienced disability attorneys across all 50 states who handle every stage of the denial and appeals process:
All services are provided on a no-win, no-fee basis. You pay nothing unless your claim is approved.
Missing the 60-day deadline generally means you must start the application process over from scratch. This resets your filing date, eliminates any back pay from your original application, and restarts the entire waiting period. In limited circumstances — such as a serious illness or other good cause — the SSA may grant an extension, but this is not guaranteed. If you are approaching your deadline, contact us immediately.
In almost all cases, you should appeal rather than reapply. Reapplying resets your filing date and eliminates back pay from your original application period. Appealing preserves your original date and your right to back pay if approved. The only exception is if you missed the appeal deadline and good cause cannot be established — in that case, reapplying may be your only option.
If you were receiving SSI benefits that were terminated — rather than denied on an initial application — you may be able to request that payments continue while your appeal is pending. If your appeal is ultimately denied, you may be required to repay those benefits. Our team can help you evaluate whether this option makes sense for your situation.
SSI reconsideration typically takes 3 to 6 months, though timelines vary by SSA office and workload. Most reconsiderations are denied, which is why it is important to begin preparing for the ALJ hearing stage at the same time — gathering medical evidence and building your case rather than simply waiting for a reconsideration decision.
Most reconsiderations are also denied. However, approval rates at the ALJ hearing stage are significantly higher — particularly for claimants represented by an experienced disability attorney who can present medical evidence effectively and anticipate SSA objections. Many applicants who are initially denied are ultimately approved at the ALJ stage.
Yes. SSI denials frequently involve financial eligibility issues — including income exceeding SSA limits, assets being miscounted, or resources being incorrectly classified as countable when they are actually excluded. If your denial was financial rather than medical, our team can review the SSA’s determination and identify whether errors were made in how your income or assets were evaluated.
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