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THE DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES

If Social Security denies your disability claim, you only have 60 days in which to appeal and ask for a new decision.  If you pass that 60 day deadline, you must file a new claim and start all over.  This has several non-desirable affects:

  • Your filing date is moved up to the date of the new application, which is nearly always several months later than the original application date.
  • You are allowed to claim benefits up to 12 months prior to the application date; however, the 12 month period now starts with the date of the new application.  So, several months of potential benefits may have been lost.
  • The appeal process is held up until Social Security acts upon your new application (that is, until they deny it again).
  • This usually results in both a loss of time and money.
If you receive a denial letter, get someone to help you file an appeal right away.  Only by filing a written appeal do you protect your rights under the original application and preserve your original filing date.  Once it is gone, it is gone!  

Remember, you cannot be charged a fee for any representation unless it is successful and results in payment of past due benefits or "back pay."

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