Understanding a Technical Denial of Your Social Security Claim

Understanding a Technical Denial of Your Social Security Claim

If you applied for Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) and received a “technical denial,” you may be wondering what that means. SSDI claims are commonly rejected based on medical grounds, meaning that the Social Security Administration (SSA) did not feel that the claimed medical conditions were sufficient enough to warrant SSDI benefits. However, a technical denial occurs when the claimant is found ineligible for benefits even before the SSA reviews the medical proof. In order to help you understand why you might have received a technical denial, consult with the Chicago Social Security lawyer at The Comerford Law Office, LLC today.

Grounds for a Technical Denial

When individuals come to us with a technical denial, we explain to them that there is one of three reasons that they could have been denied. They include:

• Making Too Much: If, despite your disability, you are employed, and if you make more than the “substantial gainful activity (SGA)” threshold, which is currently $1,130, you will receive a technical denial;
• You Did Not Work Long Enough: In order to be eligible for SSDI benefits you must have worked a certain number of years and contributed to the nation’s overall Social Security fund. The amount of years you must have worked is directly related to your age. To learn more about the age/contribution eligibility requirements, check out this contribution and benefit base chart.
• You Have Not Worked Recently Enough: Another reason that you may have received a technical denial is because you have not worked recently enough—or, more specifically, you were not disabled before the date that you were last insured. SSDI lapses if you do not pay into it. As a general rule, the SSA requires that you worked at least five of the past ten years in order to qualify for SSDI benefits. If you have not, and if your disability did not occur within five years of the date last insured (DLI), you may have received a technical denial.

Appealing a Technical Denial

Unfortunately, most technical denials are set in stone and cannot be reversed. For instance, if you have not contributed enough to SSDI through work credits, appealing the administration’s decision is not going to change that fact. However, if you feel that the SSA unfairly or wrongly evaluated your income, or if the denial was due to missed paperwork, missing information, or some other error, we may be able to build a case.

Though appealing a technical denial is not always easy, if you believe that you were wrongly denied your Social Security benefits, reach out to the team at The Comerford Law Office, LLC for a case evaluation, advice, and a legal strategy. To schedule a free consultation with James R. Comerford, leading attorney and founder of our Chicago firm, call 312-863-8572 today.