The Importance of a Social Security Disability Appeals Council Brief
The Importance of a Social Security Disability Appeals Council Brief
If you’re working your way through a disability appeal where your application has been denied either at the hearing level or your hearing request has been denied, a Social Security Council Brief will be of the utmost importance in your case. If this happens and you wish to pursue your case, you will need to draft an Appeal Council Brief in order to move forward. This will act to request the review of the administrative law judge’s hearing decision.
Things to know about a Social Security Council Brief:
- Structure it as a letter. – Your disability appeal council brief should be structured as a letter and submitted no more than three months after you file your request for review. It should begin with “Dear Appeals Council Member.”
- Don’t forget important information. – The heading of your letter should include your name, Social Security number and your date of birth.
- Don’t make it too long or too short. – The proper length of your Social Security Council Brief is between three and four pages. This is usually enough space to address what is needed.
- What to put in those three to four pages. – The Social Security Administration should provide you with information about what was used to determine your case. This will include your medical records and the official decision. When writing your brief it’s imperative that you be specific and provide citations to certain exhibits as well as page numbers.
- Work with your lawyer on your Social Security Council Brief. – Your lawyer will best be able to assist you with writing your brief. It is a very important document in order to move forward with your case and attempt to get the decision reversed. Your lawyer will already have experience with writing these documents and know the best arguments to make. You should use this assistance and expertise to make sure that you write the best brief possible for your case.
- Be prepared to wait. – The Appeals Council may take some time to review your case. You should be prepared to wait anywhere between three and twelve months to hear back about your brief.
Social Security Council Briefs are important if you are at this point in the process with your disability appeal. Work with your lawyer in order to move forward. Contact us with any questions.