Social Security Denied? 2026 Guide to a Request for Reconsideration
A request for reconsideration is your next option after your initial application for Social Security benefits is denied. First of all, you should not lose hope after a denial. Only around 32-33% of the initial applications are approved.
In this article, you will find answers to the following key questions:
- Why are applications initially rejected?
- How to file a request for reconsideration?
- What can you do if your request for reconsideration is also denied?
- How can disability lawyers in Miami help you?
Why You Were Likely Denied
Most of the initial applications are rejected because of the following reasons:
- Earning more than the monthly SGA (Substantial Gainful Activity) limit ($2,820 for blind individuals and $1,690 for non-blind individuals)
- Medical condition not expected to last for at least 12 continuous months or to result in death
- Lack of objective clinical evidence, such as MRIs, CT scans, or laboratory results
- Ability to perform past relevant work
- Ability to perform other simpler jobs in the national economy
- Failure to follow prescribed treatments
- Lack of severe impairment
- Insufficient work credits (required for SSDI coverage, not for SSI)
- Failure to cooperate
- Assets exceeding $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple (only for SSI)
- Drug or alcohol addiction being a material factor in your disability (meaning you would not be disabled if you stopped using)
What is a Request for Reconsideration?
When the SSA denies your claim, they send you a notice explaining their decision. In case you disagree with the decision, you can file a request for reconsideration.
This option allows you to:
- Appeal a Medical Decision
- Appeal a Non-Medical Decision
This time, your application is reviewed by a different team.
The Critical 60-Day Deadline
While the deadline for filing a request for reconsideration is 60 days from the date on your denial letter, the SSA assumes that it takes 5 days for the mail to reach you. This effectively gives you 65 days from the date on the notice to submit your appeal.
You will lose your right to appeal if you miss this deadline and have to start a brand-new application.
How to File a Request for Reconsideration
Click the following link if you disagree with the medical reason behind the denial:
https://secure.ssa.gov/iApplsRe/start
Click the following link if you disagree with the non-medical reason behind the denial:
https://secure.ssa.gov/iApplNMD/start
If you don’t want to file online, then you can submit the following forms:
- Form SSA-561: Request for Reconsideration
- Form SSA-827: Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration
Send these forms to your local Social Security office.
Click the following link to locate your local office:
Helpline Numbers
Toll-Free: 1-800-772-1213, TTY: 1-800-325-0778
What if the Request for Reconsideration Does Not Work
Around 85% of the requests for reconsideration result in a denial. However, this is not the end. Now, you are eligible for the stage with the highest success rate.
The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Hearing
In this stage, you can speak directly to a judge. Make sure you file the Form HA-501 (Request for Hearing by Administrative Law Judge) within 60 days of a failed reconsideration.
Most claimants hire disability lawyers in Miami to cross-examine the SSA’s Vocational Experts. These experts try to prove that you can still perform your past work or transition to a “simpler” job in the national economy.
Approval rates jump to 45%–55% at this stage.
Appeals Council Review
If the judge denies your claim, then you can ask the Appeals Council to look for errors made by the judge.
Federal District Court
Your last option is filing a lawsuit against the Social Security Administration in federal court. The court strictly looks at whether the SSA followed the law and if their decision was supported by “substantial evidence.” This is a highly technical legal process that requires a specialized disability attorney.
How Can a Disability Lawyer Help?
A disability lawyer is often the difference between a denial and an approval, especially during the appeal stages. They help with:
- Expert case review
- Evidence gathering
- Obtaining the RFC Form from your doctor
- Deadline management
- Representation at the hearing
Disability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. They only get paid if you win.
Find a disability attorney in Miami now!
