Your claim file, your request for review, and any additional evidence and/or comments you submitted are assembled into a case folder by the Social Security Administration’s support staff. Then a hearings and appeals analyst reviews the case folder. Hearings and appeals analysts are paralegal specialists, who have a great deal of experience in Social Security’s programs. The analyst prepares a written analysis of the case folder and a recommendation. He or she also prepares a notice, order, or decision for the Administrative Appeals Judge or Appeals Officer’s signature.

The Administrative Appeals Judge or Appeals Officer considers the evidence, the hearing decision, the analysis, and recommendation. If the Judge or Officer agrees with the recommended action, he or she will sign the notice, order or decision. If they disagree, they may make appropriate changes or return the case folder to the analyst for a different action. Ultimately, the Administrative Appeals Judge or Appeals Officer issues the Appeals Council’s action. The support staff dates and mails it to you with a copy to your representative, if you have one.