What do You do if You get Denied for Disability in California?   This is not a trick question, just one with an obvious answer. I've blogged about this topic frequently, but its always worth revisiting for one basic reason: many, many thousands of individuals who file for disability and then get denied fail to take the next, obvious, most practical, and most beneficial step. That is, they do not follow up by filing a disability appeal. In fact, a recent article in a publication called the suburban Chicago news tells the story of a woman who worked as a health home aide until her heart problems and a spinal lesion made it impossible to continue working. She went to social security to apply for disability benefits, was denied as so many claimants are and then...apparently did nothing in the way of utilizing the Social Security Disability appeal process. This seems to be indicated by the fact that she apparently filed a new disability application the following year and another disability application the year after that. As a disability examiner, it was impossible not to notice this phenomenon among claimants -- getting denied for disability and then not doing an appeal, but, instead, waiting until a later point to apply all over again. Why? Who can say, really. My own suspicion is that a large percentage of these individuals, for one reason or another, fail to submit their disability appeal by the time limit (60 days plus 5 additional days allotted for mail time) and then, because of that, have no choice to start over with a new claim. Which, in all likelihood, will simply get denied because it will be handled by the same agency--the state disability processing agency that handles disability decisions for the social security administration and which, in most states, is known as DDS--that previously handled the claim... versus being heard and evaluated by an administrative law judge who is not part of that same institutional (and inherently hostile) process. However, it is also likely that many claimants who have been denied for disability in California fully intend to file a disability appeal and then for whatever reasons...fail to do so. Here's the truth of the matter, though. There is absolutely no reason for missing a disability appeal deadline in 99 percent of all cases when the social security administration allows claimants two full months to submit an appeal. Yet it happens time and time again. For this reason, I am strongly inclined to sharply agree with those who so vocally declare that no one should seek disability representation until they've requested a disability hearing, or even not at all. Obviously, there are thousands upon thousands of disability claimants whose cases would have successfully moved forward in the system had they simply had a representative on record to handle their appeals for them. Yes, the filing of appeals is very simple; but the mere fact that so many claimants fail to do timely appeals is a strong argument for considering early representation on a claim. And the argument becomes much stronger when claimants are filing on the basis of medical impairments that significantly impair their mobility, impair their memory, impair their cognitive ability, or otherwise impair them mentally. About the Author: Tim Moore is a former Social Security Disability Examiner in North Carolina, has been interviewed by the NY Times and the LA Times on the disability system, and is an Accredited Disability Representative (ADR) in North Carolina. For assistance on a disability application or Appeal in NC, click here. Most popular topics on SSDRC.com Social Security Disability in North Carolina Common Mistakes to avoid after being denied for Disability Tips to Prepare for Filing for Social Security Disability or SSI Advice to Win SSD and SSI Benefit Claims Social Security Disability SSI Questions What is the difference between Social Security Disability and SSI? How to get disability for depression Getting disability for fibromyalgia SSI disability for children with ADHD What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? Social Security Disability SSI Exam tips More Social Security Disability SSI Questions What makes you eligible for Social Security Disability or SSI? Filing for disability in California How do I Apply for Disability Benefits in California How long should you wait before you apply for disability? SSD and SSI applications in California What do you do if your California disability claim is denied? Do you file for your children when you apply for disability in California? Should you apply for disability in California after a denial? How long does a disability case take in California After you file for disability in California Filing for disability in California and your condition Filing a disability claim in California, long filing process The California disability process Do I need to be disabled a year in California to get disability? The Social Security Disability process in California California Disability determination process Disability approval criteria in California California Social Security Disability decisions Steps to Win Social Security Disability benefits in California Questions about disability in California How much can you make in California and still apply for disability? California Social Security Back Pay Can Disability benefits be garnished in California? Disability two year medicare waiting period in California California review of Social Security Disability claim California Social Security Disability status VA disability and California Social Security Disability Can a Congressman in California help on a disability case How do examiners make disability decisions in California? Applying for disability benefits in California How long does disability take in California? How long does it take to get a decision on a disability case in California? Why do disability claims take so long in California? How Long Will It Take To Get My Disability Decision If I Appeal in California? Disability claims in California with certain conditions Applying For Disability On the Basis of Back Pain in California Filing for Disability with Fibromyalgia in California Social Security Disability For Mental Illness in California Winning California disability Will a lawyer improve the chance to win disability in California? Getting approved for disability in California Winning disability in California California Disability Lawyers and Representation Getting a disability attorney in California Finding a new disability attorney in California Applying for SSI in California Filing for SSI disability in California SSI disability denied in California Are SSI claims in California denied more than SSDI claims? How to apply for SSI Disability in California Doctors, medical records, and medical exams Doctors and applying for disability in California Can you be turned down for disability in California if your doctor says you are disabled? Disability hearings in California Disability Hearings in California California quick disability hearing How do I win my Social Security Disability Hearing in California? How long does it take to get a disability hearing in California? Disability denials in California Disability Denied in California If a disability claim is denied in California Appealing a Social Security Disability denial in California If you get denied Social Security Disability in California Why are Most Disability Cases Denied in California? Getting approved or denied for disability in California Disability appeals in California How do you file a disability appeal in California? How many disability appeals do you get in California? If your California disability appeal is denied, can you get another appeal? If your disability reconsideration is denied in California Filing a reconsideration appeal in California Why was I denied disability in California? Qualifying for disability in California Qualifying for disability in California Qualify for SSD in California Will I Qualify For Disability Benefits in California? Disability lawyers in California Using a Social Security Disability Attorney in California Cost of a California disability attorney Why do disability lawyers in California sometimes not take cases? Hiring a Disability Lawyer in California Social Security Disability Attorney Fees In California How do Disability Lawyers in California get paid their fees? Should you get a disability lawyer before you get denied in California? Lawyer for a disability hearing in California Why was I denied disability in California?