Request for Reconsideration
Official owner Social Security Administration
The first of SSA’s four appeal stages. SSA publishes a 60-day standard for submitting it once a decision is received, and states that a Disability Determination Services examiner reviews a disability reconsideration.
What problem this helps solve
The first of SSA’s four appeal stages. SSA publishes a 60-day standard for submitting it once a decision is received, and states that a Disability Determination Services examiner reviews a disability reconsideration.
Who completes it: The person who received the decision, or a representative appointed under SSA-1696.
What this does not prove
Filing reconsideration does not reverse a decision, extend a deadline, or establish eligibility. Read the date on your own notice: it controls, not SSA’s published standard. If the date has passed, ask SSA in writing whether a late request can be accepted — NOLO has not verified the rules SSA applies to that.
NOLO source confidence
Official destination checked
The official SSA reconsideration page was opened and read in a rendered browser session; ssa.gov returns 403 to a scripted fetch, so this was an eyes-on check. SSA directs users to sign in and search for the form rather than publishing an open PDF link, so no direct document URL is recorded.
Last checked August 6, 2026. This label describes NOLO’s source knowledge, not agency quality or service availability.
No direct public document recorded
This record points to a portal or instructions page. NOLO does not substitute a directory root or search result for a direct form.
Form record
- Official title
- Request for Reconsideration
- Form number
- SSA-561-U2
- Program
- SSI and SSDI appeals
- Jurisdiction
- United States
- Revision date
- Not published
- Who completes it
- The person who received the decision, or a representative appointed under SSA-1696.
- Signature
- Not verified by NOLO; follow the attestation steps in SSA’s online flow or on the current form.
- Submission methods
- Online disability or non-medical reconsideration request, Upload a completed form after signing in, By phone on 1-800-772-1213, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., TTY 1-800-325-0778
- Supporting documents
- • The dated decision notice itself, which carries the deadline that controls — SSA’s published 60-day standard is not a substitute for reading it.
- • Any medical evidence postdating the decision; what is required is SSA’s to specify.
- Languages
- SSA publishes phone support "in English, Spanish, and other languages"; the language set of the form itself was not verified.
- Accessibility
- SSA publishes a TTY line at 1-800-325-0778. NOLO has not completed an accessibility review of SSA’s online flow.
Related NOLO journeys
Use a journey to prepare for documents, blockers, and backup routes around this destination.
Related documents and starting points
These records share a journey—not necessarily a submission package. Check each purpose and source state separately.
- Official formRequest For Hearing By Administrative Law JudgeOfficial destination checked
- Online portalSocial Security Disability application routeOfficial destination checked
- Instructions pageAppeal a Social Security disability decisionOfficial destination checked
- Instructions pageSocial Security representative payee processOfficial destination checked
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Source note: Filing reconsideration does not reverse a decision, extend a deadline, or establish eligibility. Read the date on your own notice: it controls, not SSA’s published standard. If the date has passed, ask SSA in writing whether a late request can be accepted — NOLO has not verified the rules SSA applies to that.
NOLO does not process this form, receive your answers, decide eligibility, or represent the agency. A destination check does not confirm current funding, acceptance, or an outcome.
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