Principal Attorney
A Social Security disability case can take months or even years to resolve, and deadlines can arise throughout the entire process.
During the application phase, the Social Security Administration (SSA) may contact you to request additional evidence like medical records or other documentation, and each request may have its own response window.
Then, if the SSA denies your claim, you must act within strict time limits to file an appeal. There are four stages to the appeals process, and you typically have 60 days to initiate each successive stage after receiving a denial at a given level.
If you miss a deadline, the consequences can range from a preventable denial to losing your right to back pay dating to your original onset date.
What Happens If You Miss an Appeal Deadline?
The SSA gives you 60 days to file an appeal at each stage of the appeals process, with an additional five days built in for mailing time. If you miss that window at the reconsideration stage, you generally lose the right to appeal that specific denial. If you miss a hearing request deadline, the SSA may dismiss your appeal entirely.
In most cases, you’ll have to start over with a completely new application if you miss an appeal deadline, which is a significant setback. Not only because it resets the clock on your case, but also because you may lose your right to claim back pay all the way to your original disability onset date. This could mean forfeiting months or even years worth of benefits.
Missing Deadlines During the Application Process
Missed deadlines during the initial application process can be just as damaging to your claim as a missed appeal deadline. When you apply for SSDI or SSI, the SSA may send you forms to complete, such as the Adult Function Report or Work History Report. They may send requests for medical records or authorization to obtain them. The SSA may also schedule a Consultative Examination, a medical evaluation conducted by a doctor of their choosing. If you fail to respond to these requests promptly or attend a scheduled exam, the SSA can deny your claim for insufficient evidence before ever evaluating the merits of your disability.
You May Still Have Options If You’ve Missed a Deadline
If you’ve already missed a deadline, don’t assume your only option is to start over. The SSA recognizes exceptions for “good cause” in qualifying circumstances, such as those that involve:
- A serious illness that prevented you from responding
- Incorrect information provided by the SSA itself
- A death or serious illness in your immediate family
- Circumstances beyond your control, such as a natural disaster
If you believe your situation qualifies, a lawyer can help you explain your circumstances in writing and request that the SSA accept your late filing.
How Disability Advocates Group Can Help You Stay on Track
Keeping up with SSA deadlines while managing a disabling condition is a lot to ask of anyone. At Disability Advocates Group, we’re here to take that burden off your plate. Our team can track every deadline in your case, handle all SSA correspondence on your behalf, and prepare and file all required forms and appeals as necessary.
Our team has spent years helping Californians obtain the disability benefits they deserve, and we know how much a single missed deadline can cost you. Whether you’re just starting the process or worried that a deadline may have already passed, we can help.
Your Benefits Are Worth Fighting For. We’re Here to Help.
If you’re concerned about a deadline in your disability case, or if you’ve already missed one, don’t wait to get help. At Disability Advocates Group, we represent disabled individuals and their families throughout California, and we’re ready to put our experience to work for you. Contact us today to arrange your free consultation. We charge no legal fees unless we win your case.
