The morning of your Social Security disability hearing arrives, but a family emergency keeps you from attending. Perhaps a sudden illness lands you in the hospital, or your transportation plans fall through at the last minute. Missing your SSDI hearing can feel like watching your benefits slip away, leaving you worried about your financial future.
At Keefe Disability Law, our Boston disability attorneys understand that life doesn't always cooperate with court schedules. A missed SSD hearing doesn't automatically mean your application is closed forever, but quick action is required to protect your claim and get a second chance to present your case.
Immediate Consequences of Missing Your SSD Hearing
When you fail to appear for your scheduled disability hearing, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) typically issues a dismissal notice. This dismissal closes your case and stops the review process for your SSDI claim.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) requires good cause to excuse your absence from a hearing. According to 20 CFR 404.957, good cause includes circumstances beyond your control that prevented your attendance. The SSA considers factors like sudden illness, death of an immediate family member, and other unavoidable emergencies.
Time Limits to Request Reopening Your Case
Your dismissal notice will arrive by mail within several weeks of the missed SSD hearing. This document explains that your case has been dismissed and outlines your options for requesting that the case be reopened.
You have 60 days from receiving the dismissal notice to request that the SSA reopen your case. The 60-day deadline begins from the date you receive the dismissal notice, not from the missed hearing date. Keep track of when you receive Social Security mail, as this determines your response timeline. If you miss this deadline, you may need to file a new Social Security disability application and start the process from the beginning all over again.
Imagine a Plymouth resident with chronic back pain who missed her hearing due to a car accident. She was hospitalized overnight and couldn't contact the hearing office until the next day. Because she acted quickly and provided medical documentation, the ALJ agreed to reschedule her disability hearing rather than dismiss her case.
Steps to Take After Missing Your SSD Hearing
If you miss your disability hearing or appointment, it’s paramount to take quick action to protect your SSDI claim:
- Contact the hearing office immediately. The sooner you reach out, the better your chances of getting your case reopened quickly and avoiding dismissal.
- Document the reason for your absence. Gather medical records, police reports, or other evidence that supports your explanation. The ALJ needs concrete proof that circumstances beyond your control prevented your attendance.
- Submit a written request to reopen your case within 60 days. Include a detailed explanation of why you missed the hearing with supporting documentation. Be specific about the circumstances and explain why you couldn't provide advance notice.
Act within the first few days after missing your hearing if possible. While you have 60 days to request reopening, earlier action demonstrates that your absence wasn't due to neglect or disinterest in your case.
Good Cause Standards for Missed SSD Hearings
The Social Security Administration has specific criteria for determining whether good cause exists for missing a hearing. Understanding these standards helps you build a stronger case for reopening.
Medical Emergency
Medical emergencies rank among the most commonly accepted reasons. Emergency room visits, unexpected hospitalizations, or acute medical episodes that prevent travel typically qualify. You must provide medical documentation showing the timing and severity of your condition. Mental health crises may also qualify if properly documented by medical professionals.
Family Emergency
Family emergencies like the death of an immediate family member often qualify as good cause, particularly if you're handling funeral arrangements. Serious illness of a family member may qualify if you're the primary caregiver and no alternative care is available.
Problems With Travel
Transportation and weather issues can constitute good cause in specific circumstances. Severe weather that makes travel dangerous or transportation failures beyond your control may excuse your absence, especially if you have mobility limitations.
What to Do If the Request to Reopen Is Denied
If the Social Security Administration denies your request to reopen, you can appeal that decision with help from your Massachusetts disability lawyer. This appeal goes to the Appeals Council, and you must file it within 60 days of receiving the denial notice.
Filing a new application may be necessary if all appeals are exhausted. Starting over means beginning with a new SSDI application and going through the entire review process again. However, you may be able to protect your original filing date for some purposes if you act quickly.
Protective filing can preserve your rights while you pursue other options. This involves filing a new application while you're still appealing the dismissal of your original case. If your appeal is successful, you can withdraw the new application. If not, you'll have a new case in progress.
How Keefe Disability Law Can Help
Our Boston SSDI lawyers have extensive experience helping clients who have missed their SSDI hearings. We understand the strict deadlines and documentation requirements for getting cases reopened and can guide you through this process.
We help gather the necessary evidence to support your reopening request. Our team knows what documentation the SSA requires and can work with medical providers and other sources to build a strong case for good cause. We handle all written requests and correspondence to make sure you meet all deadlines.
