The Social Security disability process has deadlines for pretty much everything. There are deadlines to appeal denials, there are deadlines to request ongoing payments during the Continuing Disability Review process and there are deadlines to complete and return paperwork to the Social Security Administration and Disability Determination Services. It is important to take these deadlines serious because failure to abide by these deadlines will have consequences.
When Social Security issues a medical denial on a disability claim the agency provides for 60 days to appeal this decision. If the decision is not appealed in 60 days a claimant must have “good cause” for submitting an appeal after the deadline. It is up to Social Security’s discretion to determine whether “good cause” applies in accepting a late appeal. If a claimant does not appeal a medical denial Social Security will consider the claimant was not disabled at any time through the date of the decision no matter if future claims are filed. This is a considerable consequence because it restricts a period of time when someone could be eligible for benefits.
Another important deadline is the 10-day deadline Social Security has for claimants who it considers no longer disabled, but who appeal that decision. These claimants have the option to continue receiving disability benefits during the appeal process, but they must request these payments continue within 10 days of Social Security’s letter indicating benefits would stop. Most people who receive Social Security disability benefits heavily rely upon those benefits to survive, so requesting benefits to continue during the review process in a timely manner is crucial.
Claimants should make sure they stay on top of paperwork Social Security Disability Determination Services asks them to complete. Typically Social Security and Disability Determination Services will send a claimant a warning letter indicating they have 10 days to return completed forms or paperwork. If the requested items are not completed and returned within the deadline it will result in a denied claim.
If you have a representative assisting you with a claim they can assist with meeting these deadlines. If you do not, please make sure you follow all the guidelines and meet the deadline requirements set by Social Security to avoid the potential loss of benefits.
