How to Write an Appeal Letter for Disability Benefits

If you applied for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA), there is a good chance your first application was denied. It does not mean that you are not disabled or that your condition is not severe enough to keep you from working. Most applications are denied the first time they are submitted. Often, applications are denied because they are incomplete or the information was not accurate. If you find yourself in this position, you can appeal the decision. The first step in the appeals process is writing an appeal letter to the SSA, which must be done within 60 days of your receipt of the denial notice. Here are some helpful hints for writing a successful appeal letter that can cause the initial decision to be reversed.

Format
Your appeal letter must be written in a specific format. It is crucial that you follow this format if you want to have the decision reversed. The top of the letter should contain two pieces of information:

• Name of claimant (your name)
• Claim number (your claim may be your Social Security number)

It is important for you to include these two pieces of information in case the letter gets separated from your appeal form.

Read and Reread Your Decision Notice
The decision notice that the SSA sends to you will spell out the reasons for your denial. It will provide you with important information including:

• A description of your condition
• The impairments that were evaluated by the SSA
• The medical and non-medical sources the SSA used to evaluate the claim
• The specific reason for denial

Address Missing Information

Once you have read your decision notice, address any information that is missing or incorrect. Pay particular attention to the materials the SSA used to reach their decision. Make sure you point out in your letter any medical information that is missing and state that you have evidence of your medical records that were not taken into consideration.

Address Mistakes in Rationale

This is your opportunity to point out any mistakes the SSA made in the decision making process. For example, state in your letter if you notice any mistakes the SSA made in your medical condition, education, work history or any other information important to your case.

Complete the Remaining Information

Once your letter is complete, do not forget to fill out the rest of the necessary forms. Your appeal will not be complete without it.

If you have questions regarding writing your appeal letter, contact London Disability today.