REOPEN A SOCIAL SECURITY CASE

There are two ways a disability claimant can ask the Social Security Administration (SSA) to review a denied claim for Social Security or SSI benefits: by appealing the denial or by reopening the previously denied claim. Both of these methods can result in an approval of benefits and an award of backpay.

I recently got a judge to reopen an old previously denied claim and won a back pay award of over $120.000. You may request that a claim be reopened within 12 months of closing for any reason. After 12 months, you may request a claim be reopened for good reason--new and material evidence.

Your disability attorney or advocate can advise you on the best course of action: appeal a denied claim, reopen a denied claim, or file a new claim.

Appeals must be filed within 60 days of the denial date. If you miss that deadline, it may be possible to reopen the denied claim and still recover past due benefits.

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Charles W. Forsythe is a founding partner of The Forsythe Firm in Huntsville, AL, dedicated to helping the disabled obtain Social Security benefits. (256) 799-0297.