[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 20, Volume 2]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 20CFR402.200]

[Page 40-41]
 
                      TITLE 20--EMPLOYEES' BENEFITS
 
               CHAPTER III--SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
 
PART 402_AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION AND RECORDS TO THE PUBLIC--Table 
of Contents
 
Sec. 402.200  How to appeal a decision denying all or part of a request.

    (a) How to appeal. If all or part of your written request was 
denied, you may request that the Commissioner of Social Security, 6401 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235 review that determination. Your 
request for review:
    (1) Must be in writing;
    (2) Must be mailed within 30 days after you received notification 
that all or part of your request was denied or, if later, 30 days after 
you received materials in partial compliance with your request; and
    (3) May include additional information or evidence to support your 
request.
    (b) How the review is made. After reviewing the prior decision and 
after considering anything else you have submitted, the Commissioner or 
his or her designee will affirm or revise all or part of the prior 
decision. The Commissioner (or a designee) will affirm a denial only 
after consulting with the appropriate SSA official(s), including legal 
counsel. The decision must be made within 20 working days after your 
appeal is received. The Commissioner or a designee may extend this time 
limit up to 10 additional working days if one of the situations in Sec. 
402.140(a) exists, provided that, if a prior extension was used to 
process this request, the sum of the extensions may not exceed 10 
working days. You

[[Page 41]]

will be notified in writing of any extension, the reason for the 
extension, and the date by which your appeal will be decided.
    (c) How you are notified of the Commissioner's decision. The 
Commissioner or a designee will send you a written notice of the 
decision explaining the basis of the decision (for example, the reasons 
why an exemption applies) which will include the name and title or 
position of the person who made the decision. The notice will tell you 
that if any part of your request remains unsatisfied, you have the right 
to seek court review.