In a major setback for the anyone trying to qualify for Social Security Disability in Missouri, the Social Security Administration has elected to reinstate the Reconsideration step to the disability adjudication process in Missouri effective January 1, 2020. Missouri had been experimenting with direct appeals for over a decade. Why the SSA decided to revert back to the Reconsideration model for Missouri is unknown. It is important to understand the pros and cons of Reconsideration and how it can potentially affect the application for Social Security disability cases In Missouri.
What is Reconsideration?
More than half of all SSDI applicants will have their claim denied at the initial filing. In states that allow for reconsideration, denied applicants need to file an appeal at the reconsideration level. In doing so, the applicant could potentially avoid the long delays associated with obtaining a hearing with an administrative law judge.
Unfortunately, denied Missouri applicants seeking reconsideration should understand that this process will lead to delays in their claim. We have a lot of experience with reconsideration in Arkansas and Oklahoma and it is our experience that the reconsideration process commonly adds between three and six months to the process time of your claim. The rate of claim denials reversed during the reconsideration process is extremely low for those without legal representation, but climbs significantly should the Social Security Disability applicant seek the help of legal counsel.
The Reconsideration Process
If your Missouri Social Security Disability claim has been denied, then it is critical that you file a Reconsideration notice within 60 days of receiving your denial from the SSA.
After filing for Reconsideration, your file will then be sent back to the Social Security office for another review. Although this is the same office that processed your original claim, your Reconsideration will be reviewed by a different examiner. Unfortunately this is often a waste of time in 95% of the denied claims for those without legal representation.
Reconsideration examiners will review your file based on the same standards as the initial examiner. As such, your claim will likely be denied on Reconsideration unless vital information that was left out of your initial application is corrected and supplemented. For this reason, it is crucial that you retain the assistance of an experienced SSDI attorney in Missouri who can review your initial application and add helpful information that could lead to a different outcome during the Reconsideration process.
If you are successful at the Reconsideration level, then you do not need to wait for a hearing.
Applying for social security disability benefits can be overwhelming. Utilize an SS disability lawyer in Missouri to make the Social Security application process a little easier. We can help you make certain that you’ve included all the important information about your case that could lead to a different outcome during the Reconsideration process. Give us a call today.