Call (843) 604-5533

Complete this quick form to get help with your disability benefits.

Contact Us

If Social Security denies your disability benefits, don’t give up. Get a lawyer who gets to know you as you appeal.

When Social Security Denies Your Disability Benefits, Don’t Give Up

When you got sick and could no longer work, you did the responsible and reasonable thing and applied for Social Security Disability benefits to bring financial stability to your life.

You filled out the forms. You submitted documents. You may have even checked in at a Social Security office in Charleston. And you waited.

Then that distressing letter arrived. Social Security denied your benefits claim.

Denial letters leave thousands of Americans frustrated every year. In fact, Social Security’s denial rate has been around 80 percent for first-time applicants for several years.

No one would fault you for taking it personally, but you should know that it’s not personal, it’s the usual experience. You don’t have to take it as Social Security’s last word. You can appeal the denial and still get life-changing benefits

The appeals process is complicated and has several stages. You need to know why Social Security denied your claim while looking ahead to avoid new reasons for another denial—and wrestling with serious, work-stopping health problems that landed you in this situation to begin with.

The best advice is to get support. A disability attorney can increase your chances of winning your Social Security appeal, and make the process less wearing on you.

The experienced people at Robertson Wendt Disability are committed to getting benefits for people in Charleston, so you can find peace of mind in a health crisis.

If you’ve been denied Social Security Disability in Charleston or anywhere in South Carolina, let us help you appeal. We’ve helped thousands of people win disability benefits.

You have about 60 days to appeal your denial. Talk to a lawyer without delay.

If Social Security denies your disability benefits, don’t give up. Get a lawyer who gets to know you as you appeal.
man denied Social Security disability benefits in South Carolina

Common Reasons for Social Security to Deny Disability Benefits

A Social Security denial letter leaves you wondering: What now?

To answer, you first must understand what went wrong. Then you can begin to build a solid appeal.

While every Social Security Disability applicant is unique, Charleston disability attorney Robertson Wendt and his team have seen some common reasons for Social Security denials over the years.

  • Too much income. Social Security has a cap on the income you can earn from working while still qualifying for disability benefits. You cannot earn more than $1,620 a month or it will jeopardize your application.
  • Thin medical evidence. Social Security won’t just take your word for it that your health is so bad you cannot work. You need to prove it with thorough medical evidence. If Social Security thinks your information comes up short, you’ll get denied.
  • Incomplete or inaccurate information. You’ve got to answer all their questions in detail, fill out every form, and make sure your information lines up with other sources.
  • Missed deadlines or treatment. Social Security is a bureaucracy. Bureaucracies are full of rules and schedules. If you miss doctor’s appointments or fail to turn in paperwork on time, they may deny your claim.
  • Reapplying and getting denied again. A common mistake people make is to just reapply for Social Security Disability benefits after their previous claim was denied, to see if it works on the second try. Social Security will likely toss the second application, too, because starting over doesn’t necessarily correct the issues that caused the denial.

Social Security sometimes brings in expert witnesses to provide testimony. Attorney Robertson Wendt knows how to present evidence to help your chances and to cross-examine these experts, if necessary.

When Social Security denies your disability benefits, they may tell you why in the letter. You also want a skilled Social Security Disability attorney to look at your case. Your lawyer can identify weaknesses in your initial application and what you need to do when you appeal.

Increase your chance for success: Give Robertson Wendt Disability a call. Our team can evaluate your case, take a look at your denial letter and chart a path forward—all at no charge to you. In fact, you don’t pay attorney fees until we win your case.

Get a free initial disability claim evaluation.

South Carolina people prepare to appeal a denial of Social Security Disability benefits South Carolina man sad after being denied Social Security disability benefits

Understanding the Social Security Appeals Process

No one expects you to know the Social Security appeals process. That’s why an experienced disability lawyer can be a real advantage: They deal with this every day and can be with you every step of the way.

Social Security gives you several chances to appeal, each with escalating levels of complexity.

Reconsideration: The first step is asking Social Security to reconsider your denied disability application. This includes sending in new or more supportive medical evidence. Most people, though, still get denied.

Request a disability hearing: After a denial at reconsideration, you can bring your case before a Social Security administrative law judge. Your odds of winning benefits at this level may be the best of any point in the process, but a disability attorney is a real asset when you need to testify and present a case for a judge. Government results have shown people are more likely to be approved for benefits by a disability judge when they have a lawyer.

Request a review of the judge’s ruling: If the judge still turns down your benefits, you can ask Social Security to review the judge’s decision. A group called the Appeals Council does this review. You send them documents but don’t see them in person. This step is highly technical, centering on the judge making legal errors, and it’s hard to win benefits here.

Sue in federal court. Your final step is appealing your case to a federal judge. The judge will review your Social Security file. They could approve or deny your claim, but more likely send your case back to Social Security for a new decision. You need a lawyer admitted to practice in federal court to handle this.

Robertson Wendt handles federal disability appeals and even holds board certification in disability law, a special designation most lawyers don’t have.

When you’re facing a denial of disability benefits, Robertson, all the Charleston disability attorneys at our firm, and our entire team are committed to giving you the best possible chance at finally securing financial relief for a better life.

Call us now!

South Carolina Social Security Disability lawyers meet to discuss local family's appeal
Skip to content