Which of the following statements about Appeals Council Review is true?

• A. It is the first level
• B. It is the second level
• C. It is the third level
• D. It is the fourth level

Answer: (D)

Appeals Council Review is the fourth level in the Social Security disability appeal process. It comes after the hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, making it the step that follows the ALJ’s decision. The Appeals Council can either deny the request for review, in which case the ALJ’s decision becomes the final decision of the Commissioner, or grant review. If it grants review, the Council may issue its own decision or remand the case back to an ALJ for further proceedings. If the Council denies review, you can take the case to federal district court for a civil action. This placement as the fourth level helps ensure that potential legal errors or evidentiary issues in the ALJ decision can be reconsidered before finalizing the determination.