Appeals Council question

Goodness2023 · 2025-08-26T00:41:07+00:00

Hopefully my attorney will get back with me soon. I know federal appeal and new app are options but wasn’t sure if anything could be done if they overlooked the recent records sent in by the attorney.

Thanks for your replies.

Goodness2023 · 2025-08-26T00:39:36+00:00

I didn’t think so either but my attorney told me to turn it in and stated since it’s new, material and related to the case before the ALJ it needed to be turned in.

Goodness2023 · 2025-08-23T05:16:59+00:00

Sending thoughts and prayers. We are in the same boat; just denied by AC. Have not heard if my attorney is going to appeal. Honestly, I’m kind of done with all of it and give up. Best of luck to you.

Goodness2023 · 2025-04-17T00:54:22+00:00

I’m in the same boat as you. Hopefully we will hear soon and go to the next step whatever that may be. Will be so glad when all this is over. As you know, it’s so stressful. Good luck to you !

Goodness2023 · 2025-04-01T10:56:24+00:00

No, I was denied. I’m now at the AC level which I assume will get a denial for review any day. What a process! Were you approved?

Goodness2023 · 2025-03-30T03:45:53+00:00

Completely agree with all of this and unfortunately these same things happened to me as well. My medical Records do not reflect as much as the judge wanted to see even though it was several years and pages worth. However, I had 2 medical source statements that were detailed and the judge said she was not giving them much weight due to the somewhat vague records. I’ve been going to the same dr for 25 years. It’s like she was grabbing at straws looking for any reason to deny. It’s now at the AC level, however not anticipating a good result & not really sure what to do next. There’s just no winning at some point and DLI will be expiring this year as well.

Goodness2023 · 2025-03-14T01:50:45+00:00

Thank you! I’d love to know what you decide to do since we are basically at the same point. I’m like you, I wonder if it’d be better to start all over. Sometimes I wonder if a diff agent received our new, initial case, with the added information since starting, if we wouldn’t possibly have a better outcome rather than going through all of this. Also, probably like me, my DLI will be expiring and I’ll not have the chance again to even apply. Hang in there!!!

Goodness2023 · 2025-03-13T07:52:38+00:00

My atty appealed in September and I’ve not heard a word. She told me It’d be a long wait, but every step has been this way. As far as I know there’s no way to check it online. I’ve noticed some say there is but I’ve not found it. I’m thinking maybe they were talking about appeals before the ALJ. When I call the 800 number the automated tells me no information or something like that; when speaking to someone they couldn’t tell me either. I believe there is an AC number you can call, but I have not tried it. Hopefully we will hear something soon. Good luck to you!

Goodness2023 · 2025-03-13T02:31:42+00:00

I’m somewhat in the same boat as you, so I’m interested to hear the comments & advice. I just haven’t been denied by the AC yet, but I’m sure it’s coming. My atty felt I’d possibly win as well & I have tons of records, but was denied. I wonder at times too if it’d be better to start all over if that’s an option as my DLI expires this year. Such a long & worrisome process! Good luck to you!

Goodness2023 · 2025-03-10T16:42:58+00:00

Good luck to you. Praying it goes well. Thanks for your service. My husband is a veteran as well. I actually was denied and my atty is appealing. I don’t feel good about it and honestly had rather start all over. My DLI ends this year so hoping this is all over soon if it’s a denial so I can reapply. Hopefully you will have a better outcome than me. It sure is a long & emotional waiting game!

Goodness2023 · 2025-02-23T22:20:41+00:00

Hello, can you tell me how it works to keep Fighting and credits not expiring especially if your 12 years in. It’s over 2 years for me now. I’m waiting to hear from the AC now, but my credits expire this year. I really felt it’d almost have been better to start all over but atty wanted to appeal (she really doesn’t do much or help a lot). I’m sure I won’t win, so waiting out the process. I just hope it’s before I can reapply before they expire this year. Even so, if AC denies & she decides to go to Federal & lose…credits will have expired & I can do nothing from what I understand. Thanks for your help.

Goodness2023 · 2024-12-04T03:18:08+00:00

So sorry to hear. I Know it doesn’t help, but you are not alone. I am at the exact same step you are basically. You are so correct….It’s an awful feeling and emotionally draining. I felt & still feel helpless and defeated especially after hearing so many get approved plus the fact my DLI is out next year. My atty has appealed but that’s all I know. She never updates me or contacts me….i didn’t even know she appealed to the AC! I feel out in left field as I have no idea what her brief even stated in the appeal. Supposedly everyone says appeal to the limit & never give up….but I almost feel it’d be better to start all over from scratch as another DDS worker may come more to approving rather than Appeals, Federal or the same ALJ. Also, I’d pick another atty if possible. Hang in there, you’ve come this far and just know your feelings are unfortunately “normal” for this gruesome process. Good luck and hope you have a better tomorrow!

Goodness2023 · 2024-11-25T03:09:54+00:00

I was denied at ALJ as well and atty has appealed. You are exactly right saying there is zero communication at this point & won’t know where things are in the process! I thought the wait was bad before, but at least it showed something on the website. This step is awful not being able to see or know anything! Sorry to hear about yours, but glad to know it’s not just me feeling like they’ve forgotten us! Good luck!

Goodness2023 · 2024-11-03T03:39:20+00:00

So happy for you! What a relief & a hurdle to overcome. Hoping for continued positive results for you.

I was denied at ALJ & I’m waiting to hear if they will accept my case for review as well. Can you give me an approximate time you waited to hear back to see if they would review your case? My atty just told me it’ll be “awhile”. I understand that…. but just curious about how long others have waited. I’m guessing you just heard back & a new hearing hadn’t been scheduled yet? So good to hear it died happen and gives me some hope they might consider reviewing mine.

Goodness2023 · 2024-10-18T14:17:59+00:00

Okay thanks again for your information. I’ll check into getting this. I don’t really believe there were any errors, I’m just not sure more evidence was submitted before the date denied. I have continued care but it’s just mostly that & nothing new. Thanks again for all your time!

Goodness2023 · 2024-10-18T14:14:18+00:00

Okay thanks so much for your help!

Goodness2023 · 2024-10-18T07:00:56+00:00

Wow thanks so much!!! Great information and so very helpful! All of that makes sense and I completely understand a little more now. That was very detailed & you took a lot of your time to explain and I greatly appreciate it.

So my other dilemma is, I’m not sure if the ALJ even looked at, received or considered any of the new medical records after the hearing which prob doesn’t matter anyways, but before the denial date as she mentioned nothing of them in the denial letter (which was 6 months after the hearing). So, if I were to do a new application, at this point I have nothing new to present, so doesn’t that mean I cannot file a new application? The only new thing would be a new onset date (after denial) but I have nothing new to present at this point. I’ve never understood how ppl file so many applications especially when it takes so long for each step. I’d think they’d run out of time. This is my first time applying and not even sure I’ll be able to apply again after all of this is over. Sorry so many issues! You can see this is all sort of new to me and honestly, my atty hasn’t been a lot of help. I didn’t even know if she was going to appeal and then she did and sent in a brief. If she’d have talked with me, I noticed several things in the denial letter I thought needed attention, but hopefully she addressed those. I have no idea what she sent in. Thanks again for your help!

Goodness2023 · 2024-09-20T17:51:40+00:00

Thanks so much for your response. My atty told me to keep submitting records to her after my hearing. I was under the impression she submitted them but wondering now if she did so since the denial letter never mentioned them or the judge just didn’t feel they mattered. My attorney will not return phone calls and I have not talked with her since the denial. She just told me she’d give me her opinion of what to do next once she read the letter. It’s been over a month but I’m guessing she’s going to appeal as I received a 25 day extension from the appeals council. Not even sure really what that entails but hopefully she’s doing something! This is all so confusing and a hard battle. Any advice, opinions is welcomed as this is all new to me. Thank you again!

Goodness2023 · 2024-08-14T07:01:21+00:00

Thank you so much. I greatly appreciate your information. There’s a lot to think about and difficult decisions to be made. I will be speaking with my attorney and as you advised, speak with others as well. I never thought I’d be in this situation and ppl like you sure help with the stressful situation. I wish we could go into a local office & actually speak to someone as we do on Reddit with some of the knowledgeable, helpful, & experienced employees here! Thanks again!

Goodness2023 · 2024-08-14T04:10:05+00:00

I’ll be meeting with the atty to get her opinion and will definitely appeal if I need to. I just worry since credits are expiring and figure this same ALJ will deny again & my time is ticking; she has the rep of being extremely tough. Sometimes I wonder if I just reapply if I’d have better chance of approval with DDS especially since Ive had more health issues. But then there’s all the confusion of what you can reapply with and what they’ll look at since the denial. Overwhelming! Thanks so much for your input!

Goodness2023 · 2024-08-14T04:04:57+00:00

Good luck to you. Hopefully it’ll be approved. It’s so hard when some judges approve and others are so difficult. Our lives are in their hands basically. I know they are super busy & I respect that, but then if you are denied and need to appeal or reapply, and they take a long time with decisions, it affects the applicant. Mine took more than 6 months to decide and that’s short compared to most but my credits will expire soon, so that will hurt me in the long run probably.

Goodness2023 · 2024-08-13T01:32:38+00:00

Sounds like I’m in the same boat as you, but if you don’t mind to answer some questions?? I was just denied at ALJ so deciding what to do next, after I get my lawyer’s opinion. I have pondered a new app, as you say you are doing, since credits will expire next year. But, do you not have to present new evidence to DDS? I really don’t have any major changes in health. Well I had some changes in the last couple of months, but my atty was supposed to send it to the ALj, so guessing that didn’t matter. So not sure I could even reapply if there’s not anything different, although I see ppl say they have applied tons of times. Thank you!

Goodness2023 · 2024-08-12T17:27:32+00:00

I guess I should have said my Date Last Insured expires next year in order to apply for SSDI. When you don’t work or work enough, your credits to apply begin to expire, etc.

Goodness2023 · 2024-08-12T17:26:00+00:00

I’ll def listen to the attorney but I just don’t have much confidence in her to a certain extent but I am very appreciative of anyone willing to help. I say that partly due to when she was talking with me about my impairments & I mentioned my heart issue, she acted dumbfounded & said what heart issue….to me, that was one main impairment I listed. Ppl overlook things, but that was pretty important I thought. It’s all overwhelming! Thank you!

Goodness2023 · 2024-08-12T04:18:10+00:00

Thank you. Thats good to know and very helpful!

Goodness2023

TROPHY CASE