Denied SSD Claim
A denial letter is not the end of a claim. It is a signal to read the reason SSA gave, move fast on the appeal deadline, and fix whatever gap in the record caused the denial.
Step 1
SSA denials generally fall into two buckets: medical denials, where SSA found the applicant not disabled under its rules, and technical (non-medical) denials, where the claim failed on work credits, income, or paperwork rather than the medical facts. The denial letter states the reason, and that reason should drive the next move. A medical denial usually calls for stronger treatment records and physician statements; a technical denial calls for fixing the underlying eligibility issue, which is a different conversation entirely.
Step 2
Applicants generally have 60 days from the day they receive the denial letter to file an appeal (SSA presumes the letter arrived five days after the date printed on it), and that window closes fast once paperwork, doctor visits, and daily life get in the way. Missing the deadline can force the case back to square one. As of 2026, treating that 60-day period as a hard deadline, not a suggestion, is the safest approach.
Step 3
Filing a brand-new application after a denial usually resets the clock and loses the benefit of everything already on file with SSA. Appealing keeps the existing claim alive and moving toward reconsideration, and in most cases an appeal gives a stronger shot at benefits than beginning again. Reapplying is generally the weaker option and is rarely the right call for someone who still believes they qualify.
Step 4
The first appeal step is reconsideration, where a different SSA reviewer looks at the file along with any updated medical evidence submitted. If reconsideration is also denied, the case moves to a hearing before an administrative law judge, who reviews the full record and can hear new evidence and testimony. Most people who eventually get approved are approved somewhere in this appeals process, not on the first application.
Step 5
A denial letter often points to what was missing: updated treatment notes, a physician's opinion on work limitations, objective test results, or proof of income and work history for SSDI eligibility. Pulling current records from every treating provider, not just the most recent one, tends to close the biggest gaps. The stronger the medical and work-history record going into reconsideration, the better the odds at each later stage.
How we help
The first call should turn a confusing legal issue into a clearer next step.
Bring any SSA letters, the denial reason if there is one, and the current claim stage.
Treatment providers, tests, prescriptions, and how the condition limits work.
Jobs, dates, and duties matter to SSDI; income and resources matter to SSI.
Ted Smith finds special meaning in disability claims: building, documenting, and filing the strongest possible case from the right medical sources.
“Mr Ted Smith represented me with my Social Security disability. They worked very hard to get my benefits.”
Questions
Generally 60 days from the day you receive the SSA denial letter; SSA presumes it arrived five days after the date printed on it. The window is tight, so contacting a lawyer as soon as the letter arrives is the safest move.
Appealing is generally the stronger option. A new application usually starts the process over and can leave existing medical and work history disconnected from the new file, while an appeal keeps everything already submitted in play.
A medical denial means SSA reviewed the condition and did not find it disabling under its rules. A technical denial means the claim failed on a non-medical issue, such as work credits or income, before SSA ever fully evaluated the medical evidence. The fix is different for each.
A different SSA reviewer than the one who handled the original claim looks at the file again, along with any new medical records or documentation submitted. Many denials are corrected at this stage when the record is stronger the second time around.
The case moves to a hearing before an administrative law judge, who reviews the full record, can hear new evidence, and may hear testimony from the applicant or a medical expert. This stage is where a meaningful share of appealed claims are ultimately approved.
Yes. Consultations for SSD/SSDI matters are free, and the Killeen office asks for whatever paperwork is on hand, even a single denial letter, to start reviewing the case.
Call or text the Killeen office and the team will get back to you, usually within one business day.
Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.
