Updated October 18, 2026. Quick answer: Form SSA-561 is the Request for Reconsideration, the first level of appeal of a Social Security decision. Generally you have 60 days from the date you receive the notice, and Social Security assumes you received it 5 days after the letter’s date unless you can show otherwise. Miss the window and the last decision generally becomes final, unless you ask in writing for more time and show a good reason.
Quick reference
| Item | What it means |
|---|---|
| What the form is | Request for Reconsideration of a Social Security determination |
| Deadline | Generally 60 days from the date you receive the notice |
| Mailing presumption | Notice assumed received 5 days after the letter date |
| Late filing | Written request for more time, with the reason |
| Payments continue (no longer disabled) | If you appeal within 10 days of receiving the letter |
| Payments continue (SSI, nonmedical) | If you appeal within 60 days of receiving the letter |
| Where it goes | Your local Social Security office; online is the fastest route |
What the form is and the four levels
Social Security’s appeals booklet lists the ladder: “There are 4 levels of appeal when you disagree with a determination you have received from us:” reconsideration, a hearing before an administrative law judge, Appeals Council review and federal court review. The first rung is this form: “A reconsideration is a complete review of your claim by someone who did not take part in the first determination.”
The form itself is short. It asks for the claimant’s name and Social Security number, the issue being appealed, and carries the sentence “I do not agree with the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) determination and request reconsideration.” followed by a space for your reasons.
The 60 day deadline
The booklet states the rule: “Generally, you have 60 days from the date you receive the notice of our decision to ask for any appeal.” It sets the mailing presumption: “We assume you will get our notice within 5 days after the date on the letter, unless you can show us you got it later.”
The consequence is spelled out: “If you do not appeal within the 60-day period, you may lose your right to appeal and the last decision we made becomes final.” If you have a reason for filing late, “A request for more time must be made to us in writing, stating the reason for the delay.”
Continued payments have shorter or equal clocks. After a medical review the booklet says “If you appeal our determination that you no longer have a disability within 10 days after the date you receive our letter, your payments will continue while we make a decision on your appeal.” For SSI and a nonmedical determination the window is 60 days.
The form has the same question for the claim handler: it asks whether the request is filed timely and, if not, to attach the claimant’s explanation for the delay.
How to file and who can help
The booklet says “The fastest and easiest way to request an appeal is to submit a request online, but appeal forms are also available for download at www.ssa.gov/forms.” The paper form’s note reads “Take or mail the completed original to your local Social Security office, the Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Manila, or any U.S. Foreign Service post and keep a copy for your records.”
You may have help. The booklet says a representative “cannot charge or collect a fee from you without first getting written approval from us.” To appoint one you may use a separate form, SSA-1696.
Which form for which decision
This form is not the right one for every appeal. For a decision that you no longer have a disability, the booklet names a different form, SSA-789, and the SSA-561 form’s own instructions point to SSA-789-U4 for that case. The form also describes, for supplemental security income and special veterans benefits cases only, three kinds of review. The first is “You can pick this kind of appeal in all cases. You can give us more facts to add to your file.” The informal and formal conference options apply to narrower SSI and special veterans benefits situations.
The copy read for this page is Form SSA-561-U2 (12-2016), the edition ssa.gov serves at ssa.gov/forms/ssa-561.pdf on 2026-10-18; it combines the claimant’s request with Social Security staff processing blocks. The deadline rules above come from Social Security’s March 2026 appeals booklet, not from the form. Check the edition printed on the copy you send.
Common mistakes
- Counting 60 days from the date on the letter. The booklet counts from the date you receive it, with receipt assumed 5 days after the letter date.
- Filing a late request without a written reason. The booklet requires the request for more time in writing, with the reason stated.
- Using SSA-561 for a decision that you no longer have a disability. The booklet names SSA-789 for that decision.
- Skipping the copy. The form’s own note asks you to keep a copy for your records.
Related: why an IRMAA new determination is not an appeal, Medicare billing appeals, fixing a Social Security earnings record error, and Social Security and Medicare forms.
Sources
- Form SSA-561-U2 (12-2016), Request for Reconsideration: https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-561.pdf
- SSA Publication 05-10058 (March 2026), Your Right to Question the Decision Made on Your Claim: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10058.pdf
Read from the Social Security Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services documents linked above on October 18, 2026. General information, not legal or benefits advice. Your own facts decide the outcome, and Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 is the right place to confirm anything consequential.