Social Security imposes deadlines on all sorts of things that need to be done for a disability case. Some of these deadlines are more consequential than others. One example is that Social Security sends a claimant a questionnaire to complete and requests it be completed and returned within 10 days or the agency may issue a decision on a claim. In all reality, Social Security typically does not issue a claim that quickly because it has to wait for medical evidence to be evaluated before issuing a decision on a claim. Other deadlines are stricter. When Social Security issues a decision it allows up to 60 days to appeal that decision and if a claimant misses this deadline they have to provide a very good reason why, which is known as good cause. Social Security will allow for an untimely appeal, but good cause must be found.
What Does Good Cause Mean?
“Good cause” means that you did not file the lump-sum death payment application within the time limit because of:
- Circumstances beyond your control, such as extended illness, communication difficulties, etc.;
- Incorrect or incomplete information given to you by us;
- Your efforts to get the evidence to support the claim, not realizing you could file the application within the time limit and submit the supporting evidence later; or
- Unusual or unavoidable circumstances that show that you could not reasonably be expected to have been aware of the need to file the application within a specified period.
When Is Good Cause NOT Established?
Good cause is not established if:
- You were informed that an application for the lump-sum death payment had to be filed within the initial two-year period; and
- You did not file the application because of neglect, or because you did not then want to claim the lump-sum death payment.
