What Is Reconsideration and Who Makes the Reconsideration Determination?

On This Page

1. Understanding Reconsideration for Social Security Disability
2. How the Appeals Process Works in Pennsylvania
3. Let the Berger and Green Team Fight for Your Disability Benefits
4. Talk to a Pittsburgh Social Security Disability Attorney Today

REVIEWED BY

C. William Kenny

December 12, 2023

Board certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy

Reconsideration is the initial stage of the Social Security Disability appeals process. A claimant who receives a denial can request reconsideration. This is a request to ask the Social Security Administration to take another look at the application and medical evidence. When you request reconsideration, the Social Security Administration will assign your case to a new disability examiner, who will double-check your qualifications.

In Pennsylvania, you cannot request reconsideration. Instead, you skip that step and can request an appeals hearing before an administrative law judge.

Understanding Reconsideration for Social Security Disability

Reconsideration is the first step in the Social Security disability appeals process. Simply, it is a request for the Social Security Administration to give your application another look. It is relatively rare that claimants get their denials overturned during reconsideration. This is because of the way the process works:

• The Social Security Administration assigns your case to a disability examiner
• The disability examiner looks at your application and medical evidence
• The official determines whether the initial denial was appropriate, based on the evidence

In other words, the disability examiner looks at mostly the same evidence to make a decision. While the examiner can request new medical records, they are not always persuaded to make a different determination.

The Social Security Administration still requires you to request reconsideration in most states, however. In Pennsylvania, you can skip the reconsideration step and request an appeals hearing once your denial has been officially confirmed. Appeals hearings have a higher rate of overturned denials than the reconsideration process.

How the Appeals Process Works in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, there is no reconsideration stage in the Social Security appeals process. Instead, the first step is to request an appeals hearing in front of an administrative law judge. This allows you to skip the time consuming and rarely effective reconsideration process.

Presenting your case before an administrative law judge is more effective at getting you approved for benefits. A Social Security disability attorney can help you bolster your appeal and fight for your benefits.

An attorney who understands these cases can:

• Obtain copies of your medical records and evidence on your behalf
• Request updated medical information
• Collect statements from your doctors
• Prepare to counter any arguments against approval for benefits

The wait for your appeals hearing in Pittsburgh is normally over a year. However, our Social Security disability attorneys will use this time to encourage you to follow up on all recommended medical treatment so that we can prepare our argument for the monthly benefits and back pay you deserve.

Let the Berger and Green Team Fight for Your Disability Benefits

At Berger and Green, our team can file your appeal and prepare a case to reverse your denial. If the Social Security Administration denied your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim for benefits, we can help you appeal the decision.

You only have 60 days to file an appeal, so it is imperative that you act quickly after receiving your denial notice. Call us as soon as possible at 412-661-1400, so we can go to work for you. We will submit your request for an appeals hearing if time permits and ensure you get on the docket.

Then, we will begin preparing your case. This will require us to:

• Get to the bottom of why the Social Security Administration denied your claim
• Build a solid case to demonstrate your impairment and other qualifications.
• Request your medical records and all available medical evidence in preparation for your hearing

We will keep you up-to-date about the status of your case and ensure you understand what to expect at your appeals hearing. We will represent you during the hearing and argue for:

• A reversal of the denial
• Approval for monthly benefits
• Back pay
• Retroactive pay

If we cannot get you approved for disability benefits during your appeals hearing, there are additional actions we can take. We can discuss continuing your appeal, if necessary.

Talk to a Pittsburgh Social Security Disability Attorney Today

If the Social Security Administration denied your Pittsburgh application for SSDI or SSI benefits, the team from Berger and Green can help. We will review your case for free and navigate the appeals process on your behalf. You do not have to worry about reconsideration in Pennsylvania, and we will try our best to ensure you have a strong case for your appeals hearing.

We can also pursue a civil case for compensation on your behalf, if you sustained an impairment from an injury accident in Pittsburgh.

Call or text us today at 412-661-1400 to get started with your complimentary consultation with a member of our team.