Direct answer
Reconsideration vs appeal — what's the difference?
Reconsideration is the first step of the SSDI appeals process, in which the state Disability Determination Services re-reviews the claim, followed by ALJ hearing, Appeals Council, and federal court — each with a 60-day filing deadline.
People often use "appeal" to mean the ALJ hearing specifically because that is where most winnable claims are won.
Sourced from ssa.gov — see citations below.
The four appeal steps
Reconsideration → ALJ hearing → Appeals Council → federal court. Every step must be requested within 60 days of the prior denial notice.
Why "appeal" often means the hearing
Reconsideration rarely reverses denials because the same state agency re-reviews largely the same file. The ALJ hearing is where updated evidence, treating-source opinions, and testimony can change the outcome.
Topics
Sources
Every figure and rule on this page is drawn from official SSA publications. Verify at the links below.
- SSA — The Appeals Process (ssa.gov)
- SSA — Hearing Process (ssa.gov)