
Did you call or visit Social Security, and get told something that sounded weird, funny, random, disappointing or untrue? Don’t worry. You still have plenty of options.
If your application was denied:
You can appeal your case, and you can get a disability lawyer
You can check out this disability timeline to figure out your next steps
You can also do a million, billion things to increase your chances of getting approved
You can request a copy of your Social Security file to learn more about what happened
If your denial was a long time ago, you can start a new application
If you are told you are not eligible to apply for disability
You can check out this list of What to do when you are told you aren’t eligible
If you missed a deadline
What to Do If You Missed a Deadline
If you think someone is telling you wrong information:
How Come Someone at Social Security is Telling Me This Weird Thing?
If someone is saying “no” to you, when you think the answer should be “yes”
If you call or visit the Social Security office and someone stonewalls you:
You can try saying one of these Magic Sentences To Turn a No Into a Yes
You can try these smart strategies to turn things around
Whatever you do Never Take No for an Answer Over the Phone or in a meeting. If you have not been turned down IN WRITING, then you have not yet even made your request.
You can request an appointment to meet with a supervisor (can be a phone appointment)
You can request an appointment to meet with a service representative who specializes in SSI or SSDI (can be a phone appointment) – they may know more than the random person on the phone or behind the counter.
If magic sentences and smart strategies don’t work, you can:
You can try to Get Help from Your Congressperson. There is a person on staff there who has the job of helping people sort out these kind of issues!
You can fill out a form to Request reconsideration on a decision
You can go up the food chain. Ask to speak to the supervisor, then the field office manager, then the area director, then regional offices. While doing this, also ask for support from your Congressperson’s office, they can be making calls on your behalf.
If the person you are dealing with doesn’t know the policies
You can find them yourself, print out a copy, and show them:
You can read the Social Security disability website for basic info
You can read the Social Security policy manual for complete regs
You can search the Social Security policy manual
If your problem relates to your medical records:
You can learn: How Do I Collect All My Medical Records (even the secret ones)?
You can also check: How Do I Make Sure My Records Aren’t Lost or Missing?
If you are not happy with something written by your own doctors, don’t approach Social Security about this, you need to address it with your doctor: How Do I Fix Problems in My Medical Records?
If you are not happy with something written by a Social Security doctor, you can bring a copy to your own doctor and ask them to write a rebuttal. Also, you can point out problems or mistakes to your lawyer and ask if they can help you with refuting the report.
If you are having a problem with your SSI check:
You can learn the learn the SSI regulations
If the problem is related to rent, food, or utilities: How Much Rent to Pay on SSI
If you have too many resources: If You Are Over the SSI Resource Limit
If you think your check is smaller than it should be:
You can request an interview to have your SSI redetermined: How to Handle an SSI Interview
If you don’t know what the problem is:
You can check out this list to see what the problem is: How Come My Disability Check is So Small?
If Social Security says you owe them money back:
You can learn: How To Handle Overpayments
If you have been approved for disability or you are being reviewed:
You can learn: Everything You Need to Know the First Six Months
You can also learn: Everything You Need to Know the Rest of Your Life
If you have a problem with your review: How to Appeal a Disability Review
If you have a question and can’t get a reliable answer:
You can ask the Disability Advisor Kay Derochie
You can ask disability lawyers Ask a Question on Avvo
You can ask a former Social Security employee Tim Moore
You can also post your questions in the comments at the bottom of this page.
If you want to seek help from a nonprofit:
You can start contacting local agencies and asking for a referral to anyone who can provide you with legal advice or assistance with a Social Security problem. Call everywhere and keep calling and keep asking.
It is unlikely that people at the programs below will know complex Social Security policies, but they may know the basics and they may be able to help you do things like fill out forms, submit appeals, and make phone calls. You still want to learn as much as you can yourself about what policies apply to your situation.
You can look into: How to Get a Social Worker
You can contact your local nonprofit legal aid center
You can contact your Area Agency on Aging (Call them even if you are young!)
You can contact your Centers for Independent Living
You can try the Eldercare Locator (Again, any age)
You can contact your state’s Disability Rights agency
You can dial 2-1-1 on your phone and ask for poverty and disability agencies
If you think someone at Social Security has broken a policy
You can find out what Social Security office is handling your case right now and call and ask to speak to a supervisor. Try to find the name and number of the policy if possible. Also contact the staff at your Congressperson’s office. They can inquire on your behalf.
You can also try contacting various Social Security agencies and see if you get any response: Office of Public Inquiries, Your Congressperson and/or Senator, Office of Inspector General, Division of Quality Services, Discrimination Complaint, Social Security Support Team, Social Security Regional Offices, Social Security Administrator
Please comment below with stories, ideas, questions or suggestions. Please let us know if any links on this page stop working. If you found this page helpful, please share it with others by pressing one of these magic little buttons:
I had two trial work months counted that were not even close to being over the limit I am allowed to make. I have made numerous calls, and wrote a letter asking why they were counted, and provided pay check stubs.. The response to my letter had absolutely nothing to do with my question-standard form letter. This has been going on for months, and months. I am at a loss. If they wont help who can?
Thanks so much for this blog!
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You can try filing a request for reconsideration form on the decision. Enclose your proof. They. must process it and give an answer. If they don’t make a fair decision, keep appealing.
You can also try congressperson’s office for help – links above.
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I have an Overpayment with the Social Security office. I have never missed a payment since I’ve had it. I was one week away from closing on a house…got cold feet and delayed it for another week. Within that time period a “Flag” was placed on my account advising of delinquency. This was the end of Dec. 2019. I have had no luck with SS and have gotten Congress involved. It’s almost April and I continuously get “We are working on it” from SS, they have now taken my Federal refund as the account shows as delinquent and it’s not… what else can be done?? I am on the verge of loosing the home that I have had built from ground up as well as paying fees for not following thru. All due to false information on my account!
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I’m so sorry. I do not know the answer. I hope your local legal aide program might be able to advise.
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My grandson is disabled and began receiving SSI when he was small. His father became disabled a few years later and my grandson was taken off his SSI by Social Security and began drawing receiving benefits from his disabled father. These benefits were much less than his earlier SSI. He is now 16 and what will happen when he reaches 18.
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I’m not sure why his SSI went away, possibly household income from parents with too high or if is receiving child support. When he is 18, his parents income will no longer count.
He will go through a medical review. Some children have difficulty passing this so anything that you can do to help get good medical records and assessments can help.
If he passes the medical review, he’ll continue to collect off his father, and if the amount Is very low and he has no other income, he will likely qualify for some SSI as well. Most parents with disabled children set up a rental agreement with their child when they turn 18, without a rental agreement his SSI will be reduced.
If parents income is low, he can also apply for SSI right now, I don’t know what it is that made him ineligible.
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Thank you so much for addressing these very real issues, I don’t see many blogs like this.
I’m in the application process and we are struggling while we wait roughly 2 years for approval, according to my lawyer. Thank you for the information to speed this process where possible
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created it It has everything for everyone Read and weep”
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Truth. This site is so full of information!
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