SSDI Reconsideration in Montana: What to Do

Receiving a denial from the Social Security Administration after applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is discouraging — but it is not the end of the road. The majority of initial SSDI applications are denied, and Montana residents have the right to challenge that decision through a formal process called reconsideration. Understanding how reconsideration works, what the SSA looks for, and how to build a stronger case can significantly improve your chances of approval.

What Is SSDI Reconsideration?

Reconsideration is the first level of appeal available after an initial SSDI denial. A different SSA examiner — one who was not involved in the original decision — reviews your entire claim file from scratch. This reviewer will evaluate all previously submitted evidence along with any new medical records, statements, or documentation you provide.

In Montana, reconsideration requests are processed through the Disability Determination Services (DDS) office. Montana operates under the federal SSA framework, meaning the medical and vocational standards applied at reconsideration are the same nationwide. However, the practical experience of claimants in Montana — particularly those in rural areas with limited access to specialists — can affect how medical evidence is gathered and presented.

You have 60 days from the date of your denial notice to file for reconsideration. The SSA allows an additional five days for mail delivery, giving you approximately 65 days total. Missing this deadline without a valid excuse — such as a serious illness or a family emergency — typically requires you to restart the entire application process, losing any protective filing date you had established.

Common Reasons SSDI Claims Are Denied in Montana

Before filing for reconsideration, it helps to understand why your claim was denied in the first place. The SSA's denial letter contains specific language about the basis for rejection. Common reasons include:

• Insufficient medical evidence: The SSA could not confirm the severity or duration of your condition based on the records submitted.
• Failure to meet a listed impairment: Your condition does not automatically qualify under one of the SSA's Listing of Impairments (the "Blue Book").
• Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment: The SSA concluded you retain enough functional ability to perform some type of work.
• Non-compliance with treatment: Medical records suggest you did not follow prescribed treatment without an acceptable reason.
• Technical ineligibility: You did not have sufficient work credits or your income exceeded the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold.

Montana's largely rural geography creates a distinct challenge: many claimants travel long distances to see specialists, leading to gaps in treatment records that the SSA may misinterpret as evidence of a less severe condition. If travel barriers affected your medical care, documenting that fact explicitly during reconsideration can make a meaningful difference.

How to Strengthen Your Reconsideration Request

Filing for reconsideration is not simply a matter of resubmitting the same paperwork and hoping for a different outcome. The process requires a deliberate effort to address the specific weaknesses the SSA identified in your initial application.

Obtain updated medical records. Your condition may have progressed since your original application. New records showing a worsening condition, additional diagnoses, or treatment responses strengthen your claim. Contact every treating physician, mental health provider, and specialist involved in your care and request records through the date of your reconsideration filing.

Request a Medical Source Statement. A detailed letter from your treating physician — describing your specific functional limitations, the expected duration of your impairment, and how your condition affects your ability to work — carries significant weight. Generic letters are less persuasive than statements that directly address SSA evaluation criteria.

Submit a function report update. If your daily activities have changed or your ability to perform tasks has declined, updating your function report accurately reflects your current limitations. Be specific about what you can and cannot do on a typical day.

Address non-compliance issues directly. If the SSA flagged missed appointments or gaps in treatment, explain the reason. For Montana residents, acceptable justifications may include distance to medical facilities, lack of available specialists in your area, financial inability to afford care, or side effects from prescribed medications that made compliance difficult.

The Reconsideration Review Process and Timeline

After submitting your reconsideration request using Form SSA-561-U2, the Montana DDS office assigns a new examiner to review your case. For physical impairments, the examiner works alongside a medical consultant. For mental health claims, a psychological consultant is involved in the review.

The reconsideration process in Montana typically takes three to five months, though timelines can vary based on caseload and the complexity of your medical condition. The SSA may request that you attend a consultative examination (CE) with a physician it selects. Attending this examination is generally required — failing to appear without a valid reason can result in denial.

Statistically, reconsideration results in approval for only about 13 to 15 percent of claimants nationally. While those numbers are sobering, reconsideration still serves an important purpose: it creates a formal record of your appeal and is a required step before you can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) — a stage where approval rates are considerably higher.

When Reconsideration Is Denied: Your Next Steps

If your reconsideration is denied, you have 60 days to request a hearing before an ALJ. This hearing is a critical opportunity to present your case in person, have witnesses testify, cross-examine vocational experts, and argue directly before a decision-maker who has broad authority to approve your claim. ALJ hearings result in approval for approximately 45 to 55 percent of claimants, making this stage far more favorable than reconsideration.

Montana claimants may have their ALJ hearing conducted in person at a nearby hearing office, or they may be offered a video hearing. Both formats are legally equivalent, and a video hearing can reduce travel burdens for those in remote areas of the state.

Throughout the appeals process, every deadline matters. Missing a single deadline can reset your claim entirely, potentially costing you months or years of back pay. Keep copies of everything you submit, send documents by certified mail or through the SSA's online portal, and track all correspondence carefully.

Legal representation significantly improves outcomes at every stage of the SSDI appeals process. Attorneys who handle disability cases typically work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. The SSA caps attorney fees in SSDI cases, protecting claimants from excessive charges.

Need Help? If you have questions about your case, call or text 833-657-4812 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney.

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