At the office of Hickman Menashe, P.S., our attorneys have more than 45 years of combined legal experience. We approach our cases holistically, carefully gathering all relevant information, so that we can identify and resolve all your legal concerns. We built our practice on a commitment to personalized service and individualized attention, taking the time to understand all sides of an issue so that we can protect your rights. As a small firm, we will provide regular access to our lawyers, and will promptly return all calls and e-mails. We are AV rated under Martindale-Hubbell's Peer Review Rating System*.
What to Do When Your Claim Is Denied
After the initial denial of a Social Security disability claim, there are four stages of appeal:
- Request for Reconsideration - You must file a request for reconsideration within 60 days of the denial of your claim. Your claim will then be reevaluated by another examiner to determine if there was an error. Decisions are rarely reversed at this stage.
- Request for Hearing with an Administrative Law Judge - If your request for reconsideration is denied, you have 60 days to ask for an administrative hearing where you get to present your claim to an administrative law judge. You can call witnesses to testify on your behalf, including experts. The judge will make a ruling and notify you, usually in about two months.
- Request for Appeals Council Review - After the rejection of an appeal to an administrative law judge, you have another 60 days to request review of the decision by the Appeals Council. The Appeals Council may deny your appeal, request additional information, reverse the administrative law judge's ruling or send your case back for a new administrative hearing. It is the Appeal Council's job to determine whether the Administrative Law Judge made any errors in the evaluation of your case, rather than to decide if they agree with the decision. As a result, the rate of success at this level of the process is fairly low.
- File a Civil Lawsuit in Federal District Court - If your claim has been denied by the Appeals Council, you can file a lawsuit in federal district court appealing the administrative law judge's decision.
At Hickman Menashe, P.S., we usually help clients once they have reached the hearing level of the appeals process. This is the point in the process when claimants have a chance to have their case heard by an administrative law judge and our advocacy can add the most value. We also help clients with appeals to Social Security's Appeals Council. At this time, we refer clients who need to appeal to Federal District Court to other attorneys who regularly practice in that area.
Contact the Law Office of Hickman Menashe, P.S.
To set up a private meeting with a Lynnwood area disability claim denied attorney, contact us by e-mail or call our office at 425-744-5658. For client convenience we have a second office in Bellevue. We offer flexible scheduling to accommodate your needs. Home and hospital visits can be arranged upon request. Our office is accessible to persons with disabilities.
All Social Security disability and SSI claims are handled on a contingency fee basis. We will only charge legal fees if we recover compensation for you.
*AV Preeminent and BV Distinguished are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories: legal ability and general ethical standards.
