Where to follow up SSI claim?

If you have applied for Supplemental Security Income, it can take some time to know if your claim was approved or denied. Usually, Social Security receives millions of applications every month, and it can take several weeks to months for Social Security to process your application. Social Security provides several ways to track the status of your SSI claim.

You can follow up on your SSI claim by logging in to your My Social Security account. Your application status will show you the date of filing, claim location, servicing office location, re-entry number of incomplete applications, etc. If you are unable to follow up on your claim online, you can call the toll-free Social Security number at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office.

How to check the status of an SSI claim

You can follow up on your Supplemental Security Income claim using the following methods:

Sign in to My Social Security account

You can track the status of your SSI application by signing in to your My Social Security account. If you don’t have a My Social Security account, you can create a free My Social Security account.

Follow these steps to check the status of your SSI claim:

Sign in to My Social Security account, navigate to the Your Benefit Application section, and select View Details.

View your SSI application status in the Current Status section.

Social Security will show the status of your benefits application, including the date of filing, claim location, servicing office location, scheduled hearing date and time, and re-entry number for incomplete applications.

Call Social Security toll-free number

If you are unable to follow up on the status of your SSI claim online, you can the toll-free Social Security number at 1-800-772-1213 to check the status of your application. This is an automated service, and you will be asked to provide your Social Security Number and other identifying information. If you want to talk to a Social Security representative, you call anytime from Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 7 pm.

Contact the local Social Security office

You can contact the local Social Security office to follow up on your claim. You can call the local Social Security office or visit the office in person. Be ready to provide your Social Security number, passport, and other documents to identify yourself.

How long does it take for an SSI claim to be processed?

An SSI application can take about 3 to 5 months from the date of application to be processed. The processing duration may vary based on the complexity of the claim, the number of applications being processed at the office handling your claim, and the availability of medical documentation.

If your claim is approved, you will receive an award letter, detailing how much benefits you will receive and when you can expect a payment. Ensure that your payment information is up to date and that the electronic payment information you provided is complete to avoid delays in payment processing.

If your SSI claim is denied, you can appeal the decision. Usually, Social Security will mail you a letter, explaining why your claim was denied and your options. If your claim was denied due to incomplete records, you should get the necessary documents ready to appeal the decision. If the claim was rejected for any other reason other than incomplete records, you should consider the various appeals options you have.

What happens if my SSI application is denied?

If Social Security rejects your SSI claim, you should find out why your application was rejected. Common reasons why claims may be denied include being able to perform your work, not providing sufficient medical evidence, impairment is not severe, or the impairment is due to drug addiction or alcoholism.

Once you have been notified of your SSI claim denial, you have 60 days from the date of the notice to appeal the decision. You can handle your own SSI case, and get free help from Social Security. You can also hire a representative to handle your case at a fee. However, the representative can’t charge a fee until they get written approval from Social Security. The representative must also file a fee agreement with Social Security to get approval to charge a fee. 

The representative can be an attorney or a non-attorney, and they have several responsibilities. Some of the roles of the representative include helping you get medical records to support your claim, accompanying you to the Social Security interview or hearing, helping your witnesses prepare for a hearing, and requesting a reconsideration, hearing, or Appeals Council review.

How the Social Security appeals process works

If your SSI claim is denied, you must file an appeal within 60. There are four appeal levels, and you must follow these levels in a structured order. The appeals levels include

Reconsideration

Social Security will conduct a complete review of your SSI claim, and you may be allowed to submit new evidence. A different Social Security representative will be assigned to review the claim afresh and any new evidence you provide.

Hearing

If your claim is still denied after reconsideration, you can appeal the decision before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The hearing can be conducted in person, online, or by telephone. You can present new evidence and call new witnesses to support your case.

Appeals Council Review

If the claim is denied at the hearing, you can request a review by the Appeals Council. The Appeals Council will decide whether to review your case or deny your request. If the council reviews your case, they can overturn the ALJ ruling or refer the case back to the ALJ for further review.

Federal Court review

If the Appeals Council denies your claim or rejects your request for review, you can proceed to the federal court. You can file a suit in a federal district court; you can hire an attorney to represent your case. The federal court is the final appeals level, and you won’t have further options if your claim is denied.