If you’re preparing to file for reconsideration, you’re probably wondering what actually happens after you submit your request. Who reviews your case? How long does it take? What are they looking for? And what can you do to improve your chances of approval?

Understanding the mechanics of the reconsideration process – the step-by-step sequence, the timeline, and the people involved – helps you prepare more effectively and avoid the common mistakes that lead to repeated denials.

Step-by-Step Reconsideration Process

The reconsideration process follows a predictable sequence, though the specifics can vary slightly depending on your location and the current workload at your local Social Security office.

Step 1: You File a Request for Reconsideration
The process begins when you submit Form SSA-561, Request for Reconsideration. This form asks basic information about your claim, why you’re appealing, and what new evidence you plan to submit. You can file online through Social Security’s website, in person at a Social Security office, by mail, or by phone.

When you file, you’ll need your Social Security number, the date of the denial letter, and information about any new evidence you have. The form itself is relatively straightforward, but it’s important to complete it accurately and submit it within the 60-day deadline.

Step 2: Social Security Assigns Your Case
Once your reconsideration request is received, your case is assigned to a disability examiner in your state’s Disability Determination Services (DDS) office. This is the same type of office that handled your initial claim, but the examiner assigned to your reconsideration must be someone different from the examiner who made the initial determination.

Step 3: The Examiner Reviews Your File
The reconsideration examiner pulls your complete disability file, which includes everything that was submitted during the initial application: your application forms, work history, medical records, and the reasoning from the initial denial. They also review any new evidence you’ve submitted since filing for reconsideration.

The examiner’s job is to evaluate all this evidence using the same five-step sequential evaluation process that Social Security uses for all disability determinations:

1. Are you currently working above the substantial gainful activity level?
2. Do you have a severe impairment?
3. Does your impairment meet or equal a listed impairment?
4. Can you perform your past relevant work?
5. Can you perform any other work that exists in the national economy?

The examiner considers your age, education, work experience, and residual functional capacity (what work activities you can still perform despite your limitations). Based on this analysis, they determine whether you meet Social Security’s legal definition of disability.

Step 4: Medical Consultants May Be Involved
In some cases, the examiner will consult with a medical or psychological consultant – a physician or psychologist who works with Social Security to review medical evidence. These consultants don’t examine you in person; instead, they review your medical records and provide opinions about your functional limitations and the severity of your condition.

If Social Security determines they need additional medical information, they may schedule you for a consultative examination (CE) – a one-time exam with a doctor chosen by Social Security. It’s critically important that you attend any scheduled CE, as failure to do so will result in denial of your reconsideration request.

Step 5: A Decision Is Made
After completing the review, the examiner makes a determination: either approve your claim or uphold the initial denial. You’ll receive a written decision letter explaining the outcome.

If approved – the letter will detail your benefit amount, when payments will begin, and any retroactive benefits you’re entitled to receive.

If denied –  the letter will explain the reasons for the denial and inform you of your right to request a hearing before an administrative law judge—the next level of appeal.

Who Reviews the Case

Your reconsideration is handled by a disability examiner at your state’s Disability Determination Services office. These are the same offices that process initial applications, but the examiner assigned to your reconsideration must be different from the one who reviewed your initial application.

Disability examiners are not judges, lawyers, or doctors (though they often work with medical consultants). They are trained claims specialists who apply Social Security’s regulations and policies to evaluate whether applicants meet the legal definition of disability.

The reconsideration examiner has access to all the materials from your initial claim, including the reasoning of the first examiner. While they are expected to conduct an independent review, they are applying the same legal standards and using the same evaluation framework. This is one reason why many reconsideration requests are denied – unless you’ve added substantial new evidence, the second examiner is likely to reach the same conclusion as the first.

Timeline Expectations

The timeline for reconsideration varies significantly depending on where you live and how backlogged your local DDS office is. On average, you can expect the process to take anywhere from three to six months, though it can be shorter or longer.

Several factors influence the timeline:

Completeness of Your Submission
If you submit a well-organized reconsideration request with all relevant medical records already attached, the process may move more quickly. If the examiner needs to request additional records from your doctors or schedule a consultative exam, it will take longer.

Medical Record Availability
Delays often occur when Social Security is waiting for medical records from your healthcare providers. Doctor’s offices can be slow to respond to records requests, and this is one of the most common sources of delay.

Consultative Exams
If Social Security schedules you for a consultative exam, the timeline will depend on when the exam can be scheduled, how quickly the examining doctor submits their report, and how long it takes the examiner to review that report.

Office Workload
Some DDS offices are more backlogged than others. Processing times can vary from state to state and even from office to office within the same state.

While you’re waiting, you can check the status of your reconsideration by calling Social Security or checking online through your my Social Security account. However, frequent status checks won’t speed up the process – the examiner will issue a decision when their review is complete.

Why This Happens

The reconsideration process is structured the way it is because Social Security needs a systematic, consistent method for reviewing millions of disability claims. The file review format allows examiners to evaluate cases based on objective evidence and apply standardized legal criteria.

However, this structure also has limitations. Because reconsideration is a paper review conducted by someone who never meets you in person, it can be difficult to convey the full reality of your limitations. Conditions that involve pain, fatigue, or cognitive symptoms – things that aren’t always visible in medical records – can be particularly hard to prove at this stage.

The fact that a different examiner reviews your case at reconsideration is intended to provide a fresh perspective, but in practice, if you haven’t added significant new evidence, the fresh perspective often leads to the same conclusion.

Mistakes to Avoid

As you navigate the reconsideration process, keep these principles in mind:

Don’t Submit the Same Evidence and Expect a Different Result
If your initial denial was based on insufficient medical evidence, you need to provide new records, updated evaluations, or additional documentation. A different examiner reviewing the same evidence will usually reach the same conclusion.

Don’t Miss Scheduled Consultative Exams
If Social Security schedules you for a consultative exam, attend it. Missing the exam will result in automatic denial of your reconsideration.

Don’t Assume Silence Means Nothing Is Happening
Reconsideration takes time. Just because you haven’t heard anything for several weeks doesn’t mean your case isn’t being worked on. Be patient, but also stay proactive about submitting evidence.

Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute to Gather Records
Start collecting medical records as soon as you file for reconsideration. The sooner you submit them, the sooner the examiner can complete their review.

Deadlines and Next Steps

The deadline to file for reconsideration is 60 days from the date you receive your initial denial letter. Once you’ve filed, there’s no specific deadline for submitting additional evidence, but the sooner you provide it, the better.

After filing, focus on obtaining and submitting the evidence that addresses the specific reasons for your initial denial. This might include:

• Updated medical records from recent doctor visits
• Detailed statements from your treating physicians about your functional limitations
• New test results or imaging studies
• Records from specialists you’ve seen since the initial application
• Documentation of any hospitalizations or emergency room visits

The more complete and detailed your evidence, the better your chances at reconsideration—or at the very least, the stronger your record will be if your case proceeds to a hearing.

Reconsideration is a file review process that offers you the opportunity to add new evidence and have your case evaluated by a different examiner. Understanding how the process works—who’s involved, what they’re looking for, and how long it takes—helps you approach it strategically rather than blindly.

The key to a successful reconsideration is submitting strong, updated evidence that addresses the specific weaknesses identified in your initial denial. Without that new evidence, reconsideration becomes little more than a procedural formality on the way to a hearing.