How to Solve Your Social Security Problems

Artwork: Robin Mead

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: