SSA Appeals Council — AC
The third level of SSA's appeals process, after a hearing with an Administrative Law Judge.
Official source: ssa.gov
The SSA Appeals Council is the step after an ALJ Hearing. If the Administrative Law Judge denied your claim, you have 60 days from that decision to ask the Appeals Council in Falls Church, Virginia to review it.
**What the Appeals Council can do:** - **Deny review** — the most common outcome. The ALJ's decision stands and becomes final. - **Grant review and issue its own decision** — the Council takes over and decides your case directly. - **Remand** — send your case back to the ALJ for a new hearing. This is actually a good outcome if it happens; remands often lead to approval. - **Dismiss** — if your request was filed late or for other procedural reasons.
**Most requests for review are denied.** But a meaningful share — roughly 15–20% — result in remands, often because the ALJ failed to properly consider all medical evidence, didn't explain the reasoning clearly, or made errors in evaluating your ability to work.
**What makes a good appeal to the Council:** Pointing to specific legal or factual errors in the ALJ's decision — not just saying you disagree with the outcome. New evidence is allowed in limited circumstances.
**If the Appeals Council denies your case:** Your final option within the Social Security system is federal district court — filing a lawsuit challenging the decision as unsupported by substantial evidence. Most people at that point hire an attorney if they don't already have one.
In real life
- A claimant denied at the ALJ hearing files Form HA-520 within 60 days for Appeals Council review.
- The Appeals Council remands a case after finding the ALJ ignored a treating doctor's opinion.
- A claimant whose Appeals Council request is denied files a federal court lawsuit within 60 days.
Also known as
Take the next step
Frequently asked questions about SSA Appeals Council
How long do I have to appeal?+
60 days from the ALJ decision (plus 5 mailing days). Late appeals need a good cause statement.
Can I add new evidence?+
Only if it is new, material, and relates to the period before the ALJ decision (with limited exceptions).
How long does Appeals Council review take?+
Often 12 to 18 months, sometimes longer.
What happens after the Appeals Council?+
If still denied, you can sue in U.S. District Court within 60 days.
Source: ssa.gov