Social Security's Appeals Council Review Process

You must request review in writing, within 60 days of receiving the hearing decision (HA-520-U5).  You should send it directly to:

Appeals Council, SSA/ODAR
5107 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041-3255

• In counting the 60 days, we presume that you receive the notice five days after we mail it unless you can show that you received it later.
  
  
• If you do not appeal on time, the Administrative Appeals Judge may dismiss your appeal. This means that you may not be eligible for the next step in the appeal process and that you may also lose your right to any further review.
  
  
• You must have a good reason if you wait more than 60 days to request an appeal.  If you file an appeal after the deadline, you must explain the reason you are late and request that we extend the time limit. The people in the Social Security office can explain further and help you file a written request to extend the time limit. The Appeals Council will consider your request and decide whether to extend the time limit.
  
  

The Appeals Council looks at all requests for review, but it may deny a request if it believes the hearing decision was correct. If the Appeals Council decides to review your case, it will either decide your case itself or return it to an Administrative Law Judge for further review. When the Appeals Council reviews your case it may consider any of the issues considered by the Administrative Law Judge, including those issues that were favorably decided in your case. You will receive a copy of the Appeals Council's final action on your case.

• Make sure you request review within 60 days after you receive the hearing decision. If you are unable to meet this deadline, explain your reasons for missing it in your request.
  
  
• Submit any additional evidence and/or comments you have with the request for review, if possible.
  
  
• You and your representative should make requests for duplicate hearing tapes and exhibits only if you really need these items in your case.
  
  
• We request that you do not make automatic, multiple requests for the status concerning your request for review. You can verify that the Appeals Council has received the request through your local social security office, local hearing office or by calling our Division of Congressional and Public Inquiries staff (1-703-605-8000) or our general inquiries staff at our toll-free telephone number
  (1-800-772-1213).
  

You may want a lawyer, friend, or other qualified person to represent you. The people at the Social Security office can help you if you have trouble finding a representative or if you cannot afford one. If you decide to have a representative, you need to tell us by filling out a special form, available at any Social Security office.

If you have a representative, you may have to pay his or her fees. For more information about representation and about the fees a representative may charge, refer to "Information About Representation."