Arizona SSDI Claimants: 60 Days to Appeal Denials

More than half of all initial Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) applications are denied each year, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Arizona claimants face extended timelines and procedural hurdles when appealing denials. Pekas Smith, an Arizona disability law firm, has released guidance on common denial reasons and the appeals process. Insufficient medical evidence is the most frequent cause, along with earnings exceeding the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold, insufficient work credits, failure to follow prescribed treatment, and missed deadlines. Denials are classified as medical (challenging impairment severity) or technical (eligibility criteria).

Applicants have 60 days from the denial notice to request reconsideration. If denied again, the process moves to a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), then to the Appeals Council, and potentially federal court. Each stage has strict deadlines and evidentiary standards. Missing a deadline typically requires restarting with a new application. Jeremy D. Pekas, founding partner, notes that while reconsideration approval rates are low, the hearing level offers better outcomes when claimants present updated medical evidence and a clear disability theory.

Arizona claimants face varying hearing wait times. The firm's guidance covers deadline tracking, evidence preparation, and vocational expert testimony. Detailed information on the SSDI denial appeal process is available, along with SSDI eligibility rules in Arizona and general information about the firm. To speak with an Arizona disability appeal lawyer, contact Pekas Smith.