The Social Security Disability Appeal Process

After you have a final decision from SSA denying your application for disability benefits, you can appeal that denial to the federal district court.

You must file the appeal within the timeframe shown in the SSA Appeals Council denial of review.

The appeal is commenced by filing a complaint in the federal district court. SSA will then file a certified copy of the record of proceedings before the agency. The parties then brief their respective positions so that a federal judge can decide whether SSA made a mistake when it denied your application.