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Social Security Administration

Fill out Form SSA-561 online

Request for Reconsideration

Form SSA-561, Request for Reconsideration, asks the Social Security Administration to look again at a decision you disagree with. It is used for decisions about Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Special Veterans Benefits (SVB), overpayments and Medicare entitlement. Reconsideration is the first step of SSA's appeals process, and the case is reviewed by someone who was not involved in the first decision.

Fill out Form SSA-561Blank form from the SSA

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Edition
(08-2025)
Pages
3
Fillable fields
37
Checked against the SSA
November 8, 2026

GuruPDF is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration. This page explains the form in plain words; it is not legal or tax advice. Always check the official instructions before you file.

Who uses Form SSA-561

  • People who disagree with an SSA decision about Social Security benefits, such as retirement or disability
  • SSI applicants and recipients who disagree with a decision about eligibility, payment amount or an overpayment
  • People who disagree with a decision about Special Veterans Benefits
  • People who disagree with an SSA decision about Medicare hospital insurance entitlement, medical insurance enrollment or the Part B income-related premium
  • Appointed representatives, representative payees or others filing on a claimant's behalf

Before you start

  • The notice of the decision you disagree with, and the date on it
  • The claimant's Social Security number, and the claim number if it is different
  • The type of decision you are appealing, such as retirement, disability, SSI or overpayment
  • Your reasons for disagreeing, and any new evidence you want SSA to consider
  • Your representative's name, mailing address and phone number, if you have one
  • For a medical (disability) reconsideration, Form SSA-827, which SSA asks you to send with this form

How to fill out Form SSA-561

  1. Claimant details

    At the top, enter the name of the claimant and the claimant's Social Security number. Fill in the claim number only if it is different from the SSN.

  2. Issue being appealed

    Say what kind of decision you are appealing, for example retirement, disability, hospital or medical, SSI, SVB or overpayment. Page 2 lists the kinds of actions that are initial determinations under Titles II, XVI, VIII and XVIII. The form notes that the list covers most cases but is not complete.

  3. Your reasons

    After the statement "I do not agree with the Social Security Administration's (SSA) determination and request reconsideration", explain why you think the decision is wrong. The reviewer looks at the evidence used for the first decision and any new evidence or information you send with your appeal.

  4. Contact information

    Below your reasons, in the Contact information section, enter the claimant's mailing address, city, state, ZIP code, telephone number with area code, and the date on the left. The claimant signature line is marked optional. If you have a representative, enter their name, mailing address, city, state, ZIP code, telephone number and the date on the right.

  5. SSI or SVB only: three ways to appeal

    Use this section, below Contact information, only for an SSI or Special Veterans Benefits decision, and check one box. The form says a case review can be picked in all cases. An informal conference can be picked in SSI cases except medical issues, and in SVB cases only when SSA is stopping or lowering the payment. A formal conference can be picked only when SSA is stopping or lowering an SSI or SVB payment.

  6. Leave the SSA section blank

    The box headed "To be completed by Social Security Administration" is for SSA staff. It holds questions 1 and 2, the field office development boxes, the office address and date the appeal was received, and the SSI Goldberg Kelly boxes. Do not fill it in.

  7. Pages 2 and 3

    Everything you fill in is on page 1. Page 2 lists the actions that are initial determinations. Page 3 explains how to appeal an SSI or SVB decision and gives the Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act statements. Neither page has anything to fill in.

After you fill it out

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. SSA also accepts the form by fax to your local office, or as an upload after you sign in to its document upload service; find your office's address and fax number with the SSA Office Locator. SSA sends you, and your representative if you have one, a written notice of its reconsideration determination.

Signing: The claimant signature line is marked optional, and SSA's operations manual says a written request for reconsideration does not need a signature.

Watch out for

  • Send your request within 60 days after you receive the notice. SSA assumes you received it 5 days after the date on the notice unless you show otherwise. If you are late, explain the delay in writing; SSA can extend the time limit if you show good cause.
  • Do not use this form if SSA said it will stop your disability payments for medical reasons or because you are no longer blind. The form says SSA will give you the right form for that appeal (Form SSA-789).
  • A phone call does not count as a request for reconsideration. SSA's operations manual says the request must be in writing.

Questions about Form SSA-561

Do I have to sign Form SSA-561?

No. The signature line is marked optional, and SSA's operations manual says a written request for reconsideration does not need a signature.

Can someone else file the request for me?

Yes. SSA's operations manual says the claimant, an appointed representative, a representative payee or another third party acting for the claimant can file it. A representative's details go on the right side of the Contact information section.

Is there another way to ask for reconsideration?

Yes. SSA's Request reconsideration page lets you start the request online, for disability (medical) decisions and for non-medical decisions. SSA's operations manual also treats a letter, fax or email that clearly disagrees with the decision as a written request.

What are the three ways to appeal an SSI or SVB decision?

In a case review, you can send more facts and SSA decides your case again without meeting you. In an informal conference, you meet the person who decides your case, explain why you think you are right and can bring people to help. A formal conference is like an informal one, but SSA can also require people to come in, and you can question them at the meeting.

Will my SSI payment continue while I appeal?

SSA's SSI appeals page says that if you ask in writing within 10 days of receiving a notice about a non-medical decision, the payment you get now continues until the reconsideration decision, as long as you meet the other SSI rules. Your notice tells you whether continued benefits apply to you.

Official information

Page text last reviewed November 7, 2026.

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