If you rely on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), receiving a denial letter can feel like you had the rug yanked out from under you.
The denial letter isn’t necessarily the final word, though. A Los Angeles disability appeal lawyer can help you pursue an SSDI/SSI appeal. At Kenton Koszdin Law Office, you can work with a skilled lawyer for Social Security disability appeals. Get your free case review today!

A Trusted Disability Appeals Lawyer in Los Angeles Helping You Fight for Your SSD Benefits

Most people with a physical or mental disability in Los Angeles rely on SSDI and SSI income because they cannot work or their work options are limited. The monthly disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) make it possible for those who have a life-altering disabling condition to live as independently as possible.
Although many qualifying medical conditions are covered by the SSA, as many as 60-70% of all Social Security disability benefits claims are initially denied.
If this has happened to you, a southern California lawyer for Social Security disability can help. There is an appeals process, and while it’s available for anyone whose disability claim was denied, the process can be overwhelming.
Denial rates are high for SSI and SSDI appeals, often due to issues with filing the appeal properly, on time, or having sufficient supporting documentation to support a claim.
A Social Security disability appeal lawyer who understands SSA requirements and what’s necessary during the appeals process can help strengthen an appeal and provide professional guidance and legal representation throughout the process.

A Trusted Disability Appeals Lawyer in Los Angeles Helping You Fight for Your SSD Benefits

Trust is important.
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What Are Some Common Reasons Why You Might Be Denied Disability Benefits?

Social Security disability claims are denied for a variety of reasons, from an inability to prove the impact of your impairment on your ability to work to a delay in filing the application or appeal.
Any applicant could unwittingly make an error that causes their claim to be denied. The advice of a Los Angeles disability appeals lawyer helps avoid such pitfalls. Common reasons the SSA might deny a disability benefits claim include:

  • The medical condition does not fit the qualifications for a disability
  • The application was filed too long after you suffered the condition
  • You can still earn money through substantial gainful activity, despite your condition
  • Your application didn’t include medical evidence of your disability
  • Your claim lacked supporting documents from your treating physician
  • You aren’t following the recommended treatment plan of your physician
  • Your income is too high to qualify for SSI
  • You do not have enough work credits to qualify for SSDI
  • You failed to provide the documents requested by the SSA

Sometimes, your claim could be denied for more than one of the reasons listed above. Your denial letter will state the reason(s) your claim was denied.

What Are the Four Stages of the Disability Appeals Process in Los Angeles?

After the initial denial, there is a four-part process that SSA applicants can use to appeal the decision. A Social Security disability appeals lawyer can help with each stage of the process, including pursuing your case in federal court.
The four levels for appealing your SSDI or SSI application rejection are:

Reconsideration

A Request for Reconsideration must be filed within 60 days of the receipt of your denial letter from the SSA. It is a formal way of asking for a disability examiner to review your claim and verify that it should be denied or to spot a reason that it should have been initially approved.
Reconsideration claims are usually only approved if there is a new diagnosis that would qualify you or if your condition has worsened or turned into a permanent disability since your initial application.

ALJ Hearing

If your claim is still denied after Reconsideration, your next step is to request a disability hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ). You must make the request for a hearing within 60 days of your second denial. Expect to get questions about the nature of your permanent disability and how it limits your daily activities and ability to work.
A Los Angeles disability lawyer can help ensure that your testimony is well-prepared and possibly secure the services of a medical expert to provide evidence on your behalf.

Appeals Council

If the ALJ hearing results in a denial, you may still petition the SSA Appeals Council to review the decision. The Appeals Council may overturn the decision of the ALJ and grant your disability claim, send it back to the ALJ for additional review, or uphold the ALJ’s decision, in which case your SSA appeal options are exhausted.

Federal Court

You and your Los Angeles lawyer for Social Security disability appeal may file suit in federal court to have the decision overturned if your claim is valid and you can build a solid case as to why you deserve SSD benefits.
At Kenton Koszdin Law Office, our legal team is dedicated to advocating for the interests of eligible people who need help navigating the complex Social Security Administration application and appeals process. We provide insightful advice and compassionate representation.
Contact our Los Angeles law firm to schedule a free consultation with an experienced disability attorney.

Contact Kenton Koszdin to Schedule a Free Assessment of Your Benefits Denial Case

Kenton Koszdin, an experienced Los Angeles disability attorney and advocate for SSDI and SSI recipients, will represent your interests in an ALJ hearing before the SSA Appeals Council and even in federal court, fighting for the benefits you are entitled to.
The experienced California legal team at Kenton Koszdin Law Office handles claims for disability coverage at all steps of the denial process and provides you with personalized, insightful advice to help your claim succeed.

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