Requests to Reconsider Approval Dates

You CANNOT ask to be paid from birth if you were not approved from birth (or if birth was more than ten years back). If you feel your application should have been approved from birth and it wasn’t, you must go back to your doctor for a detailed letter as to the date you'd like to be approved from, and the reasons why it is a legitimate claim. Asking for a date change does not always result in a date change. There are many variables as to why an application may not have been approved from the desired year. Based on the requests that I have done, I have seen approximately a 50% success rate. Be careful when requesting this - INCLUDE THE ORIGINAL INFORMATION. If you don't, you could jeopardize your initial approval. The request should be from the doctor. If your doctor declines to assist with this, you COULD try to send a personal letter (this is one of the only times I suggest personal letters). I have had a few clients have success this way. THE REQUEST LETTER

• Make a statement about being approved and the years of approval.

• State the reason for the letter (to request the date be changed)

• State why it should be changed (briefly)

• Summarize the original application (something like "as stated on the original application . . . )

• You could summarize the entire thing and write several paragraphs describing the effects and how they have always been present OR you could briefly summarize the condition and the general areas of concern and include a NEW APPLICATION (state in the beginning that a new application is included with the request)

• Include a copy of the original application when you submit

• If your reason for requesting a date change is because there has been a change such as a new diagnosis, it is best to submit a cover letter with some brief information and a quick summary of the original and do a new form to go with it. Otherwise, just go with a letter format.

• Make sure the doctor signs it.

• Again, if your doctor doesn't wish to assist you, you can try a personal letter.

• Submit online and try to use your reference number to speed things up.

Download Sample Date Change Request Letter (Word) Link to Sample Date Change Request Letter (Google Doc)