It is no secret that the Social Security Administration denies the majority of applications for disability benefits at the initial determination stage. The SSA eligibility determination process includes a number of steps for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits to appeal an adverse eligibility determination.

The SSDI initial petition and the SSDI appeals processes can be frustrating for disabled workers. The SSA also allows low income claimants who receive adverse decisions in seeking Supplemental Security Income based upon a disability to appeals the denial of benefits.

Sources say that the number of people who have appealed adverse SSDI benefit decisions to the hearing level last year reached an all-time high. The hearing level of the SSDI appeals process is actually the second level of appeal. The first step in the appeals process is to seek reconsideration for the SSA. If that step results in a second denial of benefits, a disabled worker can request a hearing before a Social Security administrative law judge.

The SSA says that 859,514 applicants requested an ALJ hearing in fiscal year 2011. Oftentimes, appeals are necessitated by a mistake in the application process. Miami Social Security disability lawyers know that an application for benefits requires complex information that an experienced attorney can help an applicant to gather and provide to the SSA. More than 75 percent of SSDI applicants seek representation by the time an appeal reached the ALJ hearing level.

Disabled workers in South Florida should consider speaking with a seasoned SSDI and SSI lawyer when seeking benefits from the SSA. An experienced attorney who understands the complex rules can help to guide an applicant through the disability claims process.

Source: Houston Chronicle, "Social Security Disability Appeals Reached New Record in 2011," Feb. 7, 2012