The Social Security Administration (SSA) decides whether you are eligible for benefits. They will send you a letter explaining their decision. If you do not agree with their decision, you can ask them to look at your case again. This is called an appeal.

When you ask for an appeal the SSA will look at the entire decision, even those parts that were in your favor. The following are frequently asked questions about the appeal process:

• When And How Can I Appeal?
• How Many Appeal Levels Are There?
• Can Someone Help With My Appeal?
• Contacting Social Security

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• American Social Security Disability
• American Disability Appeal Process
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• Choosing A Disability Attorney
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• Tips For Testifying At Your Hearing
• The Order In Which Things Happen
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• What To Do At Your Hearing
• What NOT To Do At Your Hearing
• FAQs About Disability Attorneys

ANSWER: If you wish to appeal, you must make your request in writing within 60 days from the date you receive your letter. The Social Security Administration will assume you received the letter five days after the date on the letter, unless you can show them you received it later.

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ANSWER: There are three levels of appeal. They are:

1. Hearing By An Administrative Law Judge
If you disagree with the initial decision, you may ask for a hearing on the "disability" issues of your claim, such as whether you are disabled, when your disability began or whether it has ended. An administrative law judge who had no part in the first decision about your case will conduct the hearing.

The hearing is usually held within 75 miles of your home. The administrative law judge will notify you of the time and place of the hearing.

You and your representative, if you have one, may come to the hearing and explain your case in person. You may look at the information in your file and give new information.

The administrative law judge will question you and any witnesses at the hearing. You or your representative also may question the witnesses.

It is usually to your advantage to attend the hearing. If you do not wish to do so, you must tell the SSA in writing that you do not want to attend. Unless the administrative law judge believes your presence is needed to decide the case, he or she will make a decision based on all the information in your case, including any new information given.

After the hearing, the SSA will send you a letter and a copy of the administrative law judge's decision.

2. Appeals Council
If you disagree with the hearing decision, you may ask for a review by Social Security's Appeals Council.

The Appeals Council looks at all requests for review, but it may deny a request if it believes the hearing decision was correct. If the Appeals Council decides to review your case, it will either decide your case itself or return it to an administrative law judge for further review. You will receive a copy of the Appeals Council's decision or order sending it back to an administrative law judge.

3. Federal Court Review
If you disagree with the Appeals Council's decision or if the Appeals Council decides not to review your case, you may file a lawsuit in a federal district court.

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ANSWER: Yes. Many people handle their own Social Security appeals with free help from Social Security. But you can choose a lawyer, a friend or someone else to help you. Someone you appoint to help you is called your "representative."

Your representative can act for you in most Social Security matters and will receive a copy of any decisions we make about your claim.

Your representative cannot charge or collect a fee from you without first getting written approval from Social Security. If you want more information about having a representative, contact Social Security.

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You can call toll-free at 1-800-772-1213.
Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Automated phone service available 24 hours a day.
For the deaf or hard of hearing: TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.

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