The US Social Security Administration (socialsecurity.gov) is a federal government agency of rules and regulations. They command strict compliance from all members applying and receiving benefits.

During the processing of social security claims some claims are sometimes rejected - or denied. The rejections or denial of social security claims are based on a thorough analysis of all supporting documents and papers submitted to the SSA claims department.

In spite of that, it is also natural for individuals to challenge the decision of the social security agency. If you would like to complain you should know the proper procedures involved in appealing a claim.

You are given sixty days or two months to file for an appeal. There are 4 levels of appeal in which members may apply to, and these are as follows:

·        reconsideration

·        hearing by an administrative law judge

·        review by the appeals council

·        federal court review

When you appeal for reconsideration that means you are asking for another complete review of your submitted claim and this time the reviewer would be a different agency staff handling your claim. This different person will try to review every detail of your claim as well as your submitted documents and will try to look for new evidences that will help you in your claim appeal.

If you choose, or get this far in the appeal process - the hearing by an administrative law judge is usually held within 75 miles away from your home. The administrative judge will simply notify you of the time and place where the hearing will take place. You are allowed to employ the service of a Social Security Lawyer or Attorney to help provide necessary legal assistance. The judge may also request witnesses so it is important that you have them present - especially during hearings.

The appeals council is called in if, after the hearing still you disagree with the judges verdict. Not all requests for benefit appeals in appeals council are granted - especially when after a thorough deliberation of the hearings result shows that the initial decision was correct. And if you again file for an appeal on the appeals council a member is still not satisfied of the decision he or she may brought the whole matter to the US federal court. The federal court is your last resort. And you should hire the services of a Social Security Lawyer so that you will be ensured of a much greater chance of getting your claims approved by the SSA.