SSA-561 Request for Reconsideration: File Online
By Mason ArnaoPublished
By Mason ArnaoReviewed by Mason Arnao
File your ssa-561 request for reconsideration through SSA’s official reconsideration page, choosing the medical or non-medical appeal route that matches your decision. For a disability appeal, also complete the Disability Report—Appeal (SSA-3441) and medical authorization (SSA-827), then save the online receipt showing that your request and disability report were submitted.
This guide walks you through checking your deadline, gathering the companion forms, completing the fields, and saving proof of submission. It also explains the paper alternative if online filing does not work, plus how to keep your records and follow up afterward.
Start here: the official SSA-561 page and online appeal
If you are appealing an initial medical denial, start through the medical-appeal link on SSA’s official Request for Reconsideration page. That page provides separate online routes for medical and non-medical appeals, along with access to the downloadable form. For a denial based on your medical condition, choose the medical-appeal route—not the non-medical option.
Starting an online appeal is different from downloading a PDF. The online link takes you into SSA’s appeal process. The PDF gives you a form to complete for the paper route; downloading it alone does not submit your request.
You may notice a naming difference when you open SSA’s current downloadable form: the file’s web address still ends in “ssa-561-u2.pdf,” but the document itself is headed “Form SSA-561.” Use that official download rather than an older copy hosted by a third party.
This guide focuses on submitting a reconsideration request after an initial medical denial. If you need the larger picture before getting started, see where reconsideration fits in the SSDI appeal roadmap.
Check the 60-day deadline before gathering everything
SSA directs you to submit your reconsideration request within 60 days after you receive the decision, according to SSA’s reconsideration deadline guidance. Check the timing before spending days gathering records or writing a detailed explanation.
Keep your decision notice beside you while choosing the filing route. Use it to identify the decision you are appealing and check the instructions SSA gave you. Do not calculate your deadline from a guessed receipt date. If you are unsure when you received the notice or how the deadline applies, ask SSA for help.
Saving a draft is not submitting an appeal. SSA’s iAppeals instructions require you to complete and submit the online appeal forms; for an online disability reconsideration, the appeal request and disability report must be submitted together. A saved entry or re-entry number lets you return to unfinished work—it does not mean your appeal has been filed.
If the deadline may already have passed, contact SSA for help with your next step. Explain your timing concern and ask what you should submit. Do not assume that providing an explanation will secure an extension or that a saved online draft protects your filing date.
Know the three documents that belong together
For a medical reconsideration, keep three separate pieces in mind: the appeal request, the disability update, and permission for SSA to obtain information. They serve different purposes; completing one does not replace the others.
- SSA-561-U2 — Request for Reconsideration: This is the appeal request itself. It identifies the determination you disagree with and provides space to explain your reasons. Use SSA’s request form and instructions to understand what the request asks for.
- SSA-3441 — Disability Report—Appeal: This updates information since you last reported to SSA, including medical changes, treatment, medicines, activities, work, and education. SSA’s disability appeal report instructions and privacy statement warn that incomplete information may prevent an accurate and timely decision. Treat this report as a separate update—not simply another place to repeat why you disagree.
- SSA-827 — Authorization to Disclose Information to SSA: This authorizes disclosure of information to SSA. SSA’s companion-form directions say to include it when requesting reconsideration of a medical decision.
If you file online, the request and disability report still have distinct roles. Under SSA’s iAppeals procedure, their online equivalents must be submitted together. Do not treat finishing the appeal-request portion as completing the full online medical appeal submission.
Complete the fields using SSA’s own instructions
Use SSA’s current reconsideration form and its field labels to guide your entries:
- Identify the claimant: Enter the claimant’s name and Social Security number. Add the claim number if it differs from the Social Security number.
- Identify the disagreement: State the issue being appealed and explain why you disagree with SSA’s determination.
- Provide contact details: Complete the claimant’s mailing address and telephone information, along with the representative’s information if applicable.
- Notice the separate areas: The claimant-signature field is labeled optional. The SSI/SVB-only choices are separate from an SSDI reconsideration request; do not treat them as SSDI selections. Leave the area marked for SSA use to SSA.
As a writing tip, describe your disagreement plainly and truthfully. Focus on what you believe SSA got wrong and why, rather than trying to find a special legal phrase.
For the disability update, follow SSA-3441’s medical-information questions and completion instructions. Report changes in your conditions whether they are better or worse. The reference point is when you last told SSA about your conditions—not automatically the date you applied. Use that same care when updating treatment and medication information.
The report tells you how to handle answers you do not know or that do not apply; do not simply leave every uncertain field blank. If you cannot remember an exact date, give the closest date you can remember. Use the Remarks section when you need more room, identifying the question you are continuing.
Follow the online path and save the receipt
Open SSA’s Request reconsideration page, find Request disability reconsideration, and select Start disability request.
Follow SSA’s documented iAppeals sequence, including its submission and receipt instructions to work through the appeal:
- Complete the eligibility check. Answer the opening questions to determine whether you can use the online appeal process.
- Save your re-entry number. Keep it somewhere you can find it if you need to leave and return to the unfinished appeal. This number lets you resume your work; it is not a receipt or proof that you filed.
- Complete both parts. Fill out the reconsideration request and the disability report. The online process submits these together, so do not stop after completing only the request.
- Handle authorization and supporting documents. Eligible adult claimants can electronically sign Form SSA-827, the authorization to disclose information to SSA. The portal also offers an option to attach supporting evidence.
- Review and submit. Check your entries and attachments, correct any mistakes, and complete submission of the request and disability report together. Starting the appeal or saving unfinished work is not the same as submitting it.
- Print or save the receipt page. Keep the page showing the submission date, time, and summary of the information submitted. This is your post-submission record—different from the re-entry number you saved while the appeal was still in progress.
Use the paper alternative if online filing does not work
If you cannot finish online, use SSA’s official form page to download the current SSA-561 Request for Reconsideration. For a medical appeal, that page also directs you to complete a medical release, Form SSA-827.
For a disability-related medical appeal, use this checklist from SSA’s paper appeal alternative:
- SSA-561: Your request for reconsideration.
- SSA-3441: The Disability Report—Appeal, which provides updated disability information.
- SSA-827: The authorization allowing SSA to obtain medical information.
Follow SSA’s submission instructions: take or mail the completed original reconsideration request to your local Social Security office, and keep a copy for your records. Keep the request and its supporting paperwork together in your own records so you can refer to what you submitted.
SSA also lists an upload option among its alternative submission options. That page states that you generally have 60 days after receiving the decision to request reconsideration. If online filing fails, use an available alternative within that deadline rather than waiting for the problem to resolve. For a medical appeal, do not treat uploading SSA-561 alone as completing the disability-report and medical-authorization requirements listed above.
After submitting: keep your record and follow up
Keep your decision notice, a copy of the materials you submitted, and your submission receipt or other filing record together. A single folder—on paper or saved digitally—can make it easier to find what you sent and refer to it when contacting SSA.
To monitor your appeal, use the “Check the status” link on SSA’s reconsideration page. Keep your filing record handy when following up about your request.
If you discover a mistake or have new information after filing, you cannot edit submitted entries in the iAppeals portal. Instead, provide later updates to SSA by mail, telephone, or in person, following SSA’s post-submission instructions. As an organizational practice, keep copies of written updates and a short note of any calls or office visits with your appeal records.
For your next reading step, see Legal Lawsuit’s guide to understanding the reconsideration wait. If you receive an examination request, the optional guide explaining why SSA may arrange a consultative exam can help you understand that request.
This is general information, not legal advice about your individual claim.
Keep researching on Legal Lawsuit
Frequently asked questions
Can I file an SSA-561 request for reconsideration online instead of mailing the PDF?
Yes. SSA offers online reconsideration requests, with separate paths for disability-related medical decisions and non-medical decisions. Start with SSA’s request reconsideration page and choose the option that matches your decision. Keep your decision notice nearby so you can check that you are following the right appeal path.
Why does SSA’s download say SSA-561 when I searched for SSA-561-U2?
The current download is titled Form SSA-561, Request for Reconsideration, even though its official PDF address still includes “ssa-561-u2.” That difference does not mean you opened the wrong document. Check the title on the downloaded form rather than expecting the filename and printed form number to match exactly.
Do I need SSA-3441 and SSA-827 for a medical-denial appeal?
Yes. For a medical-denial appeal, the reconsideration request goes together with the disability appeal report and medical authorization. The SSA-3441 Disability Report—Appeal collects updated information about your condition, treatment, and medications. SSA-827 authorizes disclosure of medical information. When filing online, follow the prompts for the report and authorization rather than treating the reconsideration request as the entire submission.
Is my iAppeals re-entry number proof that I submitted the appeal?
No. A re-entry number lets you return to an unfinished appeal; it is not the submission receipt. SSA’s iAppeals instructions distinguish returning to a saved appeal from completing submission. Continue through the review and submission steps, then save the receipt instead of relying only on the re-entry number.
What should I keep after submitting my online appeal?
Save or print your submission receipt and keep it with your decision notice. For your own records, also keep copies of the information and attachments you submitted. Consider keeping a simple contact log with the dates of any follow-up calls, the questions you asked, and any instructions you received.
Where do I send a paper reconsideration request?
Take or mail the original paper request to your local Social Security office, and retain a copy for your records. SSA’s official SSA-561 page provides the paper-filing instructions and local-office lookup. Use that lookup to confirm the destination before addressing your envelope rather than assuming there is one nationwide mailing address for reconsideration requests.
Sources
- Form SSA-561 | Request for Reconsideration · Social Security Administration
- Request for Reconsideration — Form SSA-561 · Social Security Administration
- POMS GN 03101.125 — iAppeals: General and Title II Instructions · Social Security Administration · 2025-12-02
- Request reconsideration · Social Security Administration
- SSA-3441-BK — Disability Report—Appeal · Social Security Administration
This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws and deadlines vary by state and change over time; check the linked sources or speak with a licensed attorney about your situation.
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