Free guide

Denied for disability?
You have 60 days to appeal

What to do next, and the three mistakes that cost people winnable appeals.

Avoid these

The three mistakes that cost people their appeal

  1. 1Missing the deadline. Nothing else matters if you miss it. Put it in your calendar today.
  2. 2Filing a new application instead of appealing. It feels easier, but it starts your case over from the beginning, and you can lose your back pay (the past benefits you are owed from when your disability began). Appealing protects that money; a new application does not.
  3. 3Not responding. Your appeal slows down or stops if you do not reply. Keep every appointment and answer every letter or request, even while you wait.
The evidence

What actually wins

Consistent medical evidence, and a day to day record. Start a simple symptom journal today: the date, what you felt, and what it stopped you from doing. Judges read these, and a year of honest entries is evidence no form can replace.

Most first applications are denied, and many people who appeal are approved later in the process. The difference is rarely the disability. It is the deadline, the paperwork, and the follow through.