If an Administrative Law Judge has made an unfavorable disability decision, the case must be appealed to the people at the next level who review the ALJ’s decision. This level of appeal is the Appeals Council in Falls Church, Virginia.
It can take up to 18 months (1 and 1/2 years) for the Appeals Council to decide whether to either deny the claim, remand the case to the ALJ, or award benefits to the claimant. Request Appeals Council Review (you need a my Social Security account to file the Request. )
Problems for disability claimants who are not successful with an ALJ Hearing can often be traced back to inconsistencies in the application for benefits, or delays in getting medical evidence when the claim was first filed, many months earlier. To avoid these problems, call today for professional attention to your claim: (413) 567-5600.
If the Appeals Council Denies Benefits, the next level of review is: Federal Court Appeal