I’m out of time – is there anything I can do?
Sometimes, the Social Security Agency (SSA) will let you ask for a mandatory reconsideration if you've missed the one-month deadline.
You should write to the SSA to ask for the reconsideration – in your letter, explain why you could not ask in the one-month time limit and ask them to extend the deadline, but you can only ask for a late reconsideration up to 13 months after the original decision.
You should write to the SSA to ask for the reconsideration - in your letter, explain why you could not ask in the one-month time limit and ask them to extend the deadline, but you can only ask for a late reconsideration up to 13 months after the original decision. The later you ask, the stronger your reasons need to be. The SSA will accept a late reconsideration if:
- It is reasonable or
- You couldn't ask earlier because of special circumstances.
If you were unwell or in hospital at the time, for example, you could ask the SSA for a late reconsideration, but it's their choice whether to accept this or not. The SSA will not accept a late reconsideration because you did not know about the law or time limits.
A recent Upper Tribunal (England) decision has decided that you can have the right to appeal as long as you request a mandatory reconsideration within 13 months.
