Disability Reconsideration:
How to File Your Appeal and What Comes Next
Reconsideration is the first step in appealing a denied Social Security disability claim, a complete review of your file by a new examiner who wasn't involved in the original decision. A denial is common, and it does not mean your claim is over. If you worked for decades and your claim was just denied, here's what reconsideration is and what to do next.
This page walks through what reconsideration actually involves, the deadline that applies, what evidence tends to move the needle, and honestly, what happens most of the time and what to do about it, so nothing here comes as a surprise partway through.
A few terms first. SSDI is Social Security Disability Insurance, based on work history. SSI is Supplemental Security Income, a need-based program. SSA is the Social Security Administration. DDS is Disability Determination Services, the state agency that reviews the medical portion of a claim on SSA's behalf.
What Is Social Security Disability Reconsideration?
Reconsideration is the first level of appeal after a disability denial in which a different examiner reviews your entire claim, including any new evidence.
This isn't a narrow review of just the specific reason your claim was denied. It's a full, fresh look at the complete file, medical records, work history, and any new documentation submitted since the initial decision, by someone who wasn't involved in the original determination.
It also matters which program applies. SSDI depends on having enough recent work credits and paying into the system through payroll taxes. SSI is need-based, with strict income and asset limits. Reconsideration works the same way regardless of which program your claim falls under.
Who Reviews Your Claim at Reconsideration?
"Your reconsideration is reviewed by a new examiner at your state Disability Determination Services (DDS), someone who did not work on your initial decision, and the review generally covers your full medical and vocational file, not only the point you may be disputing.
This matters because it means a genuinely different set of eyes looks at the file, not simply a rubber stamp of the earlier decision. That said, without new or clarified evidence, a reconsideration reviewing the exact same file that was already denied often reaches the same conclusion, which is part of why the evidence strategy covered later on this page matters so much. Filing reconsideration without adding anything new to the record is one of the most common ways this stage ends up repeating the initial outcome.
"
Vaughn S. Clauson – Representative, Co-Founder
How to File a Request for Reconsideration (Form SSA-561)
You request reconsideration by filing Form SSA-561 (Request for Reconsideration), online, by phone, or at a local Social Security office.
Filing Online
SSA's website allows many claimants to file a request for reconsideration online, which is often the fastest and most straightforward option. Online filing also creates an immediate record of submission, which can be useful if there's ever a question about whether the request was filed on time.
Filing by Phone or in Person
Reconsideration can also be requested by phone or at a local Social Security office, which can be helpful for claimants who prefer speaking with someone directly or who have questions about the process. Whichever method is used, the same 60-day deadline applies.
What to Include With the Form
Beyond the form itself, it's important to include any new medical evidence, updated treatment records, or other documentation that has become available since the initial application, since reconsideration is the opportunity to strengthen the file, not just resubmit it unchanged. A request submitted without anything new attached is asking the same question of a slightly different reviewer, rather than genuinely changing what there is to evaluate. call (888) 251-5551 or request your review online.
The 60-Day Deadline (and Good Cause Extensions)
This deadline is real and worth taking seriously, stated plainly rather than as a scare tactic. SSA generally presumes a denial notice was received five days after the date on the letter, which effectively gives most claimants 65 days from the letter's date to file. Missing this window doesn't automatically end a claim, but it does add an extra step, requesting a good-cause extension, that's easier to avoid than to navigate after the fact.
If circumstances prevented filing on time, serious illness, a death in the family, or an SSA error or misinformation, for example, a good-cause extension may be available. If you're past the 60-day window, it's still worth requesting reconsideration and explaining the circumstances rather than assuming the door is closed. SSA evaluates good-cause requests on their specific facts, so a clear, honest explanation of what happened matters more than guessing whether a particular reason will be accepted.
What New Evidence Strengthens a Reconsideration
The evidence that most often changes a reconsideration is updated treatment records, a statement from your treating doctor, and a functional-capacity (RFC) assessment, in roughly that order of how often they make a real difference.
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1
Updated Medical Records
Treatment records from the months since the initial application, especially any new diagnoses, test results, or changes in a condition's severity, give the new examiner something the original decision didn't have. Even records that simply confirm a condition has continued or worsened, rather than introducing something entirely new, can matter, since the initial decision may have been based on an incomplete or dated picture.
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2
Treating-Source Statements
A statement from a treating physician, describing the condition's current severity and how it affects daily functioning, can directly address whatever gap led to the initial denial. This is often more persuasive than additional test results alone, since it connects the medical findings directly to what a claimant can and cannot do.
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3
Functional-Capacity (RFC) Evidence
A residual functional capacity assessment, describing specific limits, how long someone can stand, sit, or concentrate, translates a diagnosis into the functional terms SSA's evaluation actually weighs. This is often the single most valuable piece of evidence to add at reconsideration, and it applies whether the underlying condition is physical, like back pain, arthritis, heart disease, COPD, or diabetes, or a mental health condition like depression. If the initial application didn't include a detailed RFC opinion, adding one at reconsideration is frequently the single change most likely to affect the outcome.
Disability Reconsideration Approval Rates: What the Numbers Really Show
Most reconsiderations are denied. Only a small share are approved. But the next step, an ALJ hearing, has substantially better odds.
It's worth being direct about this rather than softening it, since an accurate expectation helps far more than a vague reassurance. Around 16% of applications are approved at the reconsideration level. The reconsideration stage, reviewed by a similar type of examiner using a similar process to the initial decision, tends to produce a similar outcome most of the time, unless the file has meaningfully changed.
This isn't a reason to skip reconsideration. It's the reason to treat it as a step toward the hearing that usually follows, where an Administrative Law Judge reviews the case directly, can hear testimony, and where approval rates are meaningfully higher. The approval rate at this stage is around 51%. Building the strongest possible file at reconsideration also builds the file that carries into that hearing, since nothing gathered at this stage goes to waste even if reconsideration itself is denied.
What to Do After a Reconsideration Denial: Your Next Steps
"If your reconsideration is denied, the next step is to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), the stage where many claims are finally approved.
A second denial can feel discouraging, especially after already waiting through one appeal. It's worth remembering that the hearing stage works differently from the paper-review stages before it, since a judge can hear directly from the claimant and weigh the full record in a way an examiner reviewing a file cannot.
It helps to see the full appeal ladder clearly: initial application, reconsideration, ALJ hearing, Appeals Council, and finally federal court. A non-attorney representative can handle every stage through the ALJ hearing, which covers the large majority of claims that get resolved. Only if a case reaches federal court does representation require a licensed attorney, and that stage is informational here rather than something Clauson provides directly; if a claim reaches that point, we can help connect claimants with an attorney referral. For most claimants, understanding this ladder in advance makes each subsequent step feel less like an unexpected setback and more like an anticipated part of the process.
Requesting a hearing generally involves its own form and its own timeline, and it's worth requesting promptly once a reconsideration denial arrives rather than waiting. To request a hearing, use Form HA-501. "
Anyia – Representative
How a Disability Advocate Helps at Reconsideration
A disability advocate files your reconsideration, gathers the right evidence, and, if it's denied, represents you at the ALJ hearing that follows. After 30 years on his feet, John, 59, opened his denial letter and didn't know what to do next.
A denial letter can feel final, especially after years of steady work suddenly ending because of a health condition. It isn't final. It's a signal that the file needs more, not that the underlying claim is weak.
This is one of the genuine advantages of working with the same team throughout: the advocate who files your reconsideration and gathers evidence for it is the same advocate who represents you at the hearing if reconsideration doesn't succeed. There's no handoff between stages, and no relearning your case from scratch partway through. That continuity matters practically, since the medical records and RFC evidence gathered for reconsideration become the foundation of the hearing file rather than a separate effort.
Our team files the request for reconsideration, gathers updated medical records and a treating-source RFC opinion, and, if needed, carries the case forward into the ALJ hearing. No attorney is required for either stage. We handle the paperwork and deadlines so a claimant already dealing with a serious health condition doesn't also have to become an expert in SSA procedure.
Get your free case review:
(888) 251-5551$0 upfront fees, No fees unless you win, Serving clients in all 50 states, Thousands of disability claimants served
Frequently Asked Questions About Disability Reconsideration
Reconsideration is the first level of appeal after a disability denial, in which a new examiner reviews your entire claim, including any new evidence.
You generally have60 days from receiving your denial notice, plus a 5-day mail presumption.
Form SSA-561, the Request for Reconsideration, filed online, by phone, or at a local Social Security office.
Most reconsiderations are denied, but the ALJ hearing that follows has substantially better odds, with an approval rate of about 51%.
You can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, which is where many claims are ultimately approved.
Yes. A test where some prototype states skipped reconsideration and went straight to a hearing ended in 2020.
No. A non-attorney representative can handle your reconsideration and represent you at the hearing. Only federal court requires a licensed attorney.
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This website is an advertisement. Clauson Disability is a national advocacy organization and is not a law firm. Clauson Disability is a private organization and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Social Security Administration (SSA) or any other government agency. We provide non-attorney disability advocacy and support services and do not provide legal advice, legal services, or legal representation. Contacting us, submitting a form, or speaking with our team does not create a representative-client relationship. By providing your contact information, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and consent to receive communications from us by phone, text message, and/or email, including through automated technology where permitted. Consent is not required as a condition of service. We do not determine eligibility or qualify any applicant for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Only the SSA determines eligibility and benefit amounts. SSDI benefits vary based on work history, medical eligibility, and other factors. $4,152 represents the maximum monthly SSDI benefit; actual amounts vary based on individual circumstances.
We do not determine eligibility or qualify any applicant for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Only the SSA determines eligibility and benefit amounts. SSDI benefits vary based on work history, medical eligibility, and other factors. $4,018 represents the maximum monthly SSDI benefit; actual amounts vary based on individual circumstances.
