Appeals are offered to social security disability claimants at all levels, accept the last---federal district court (when claimants lose in federal court, they can either give up, or start a brand new claim for monthly benefits and backpay).

The first appeal available to a disability claimant is the reconsideration. A reconsideration may be requested after the denial of an initial claim (within 60 days from the date of the denial).

The second appeal available to a disability claimant is the hearing before an administrative law judge. An "ALJ hearing" may be requested after the denial of a reconsideration (again, within 60 days from the date of the recon's denial).

The third appeal available to a disability claimant is the review, by the Appeals council, of an Administrative Law Judge's decision.

At the appeals council, a judge's decision may be reviewed for errors that are either technical in nature (for example, applying the wrong "age rules" to a claimant and denying their claim on that basis) or more substantial (such as failing to consider medical evidence that was available at the time of the hearing).

The appeals council has available to it several options:

Reversing a judge's decision and granting an approval. Remanding a case (i.e. finding fault with a judge's decision and ordering that a second hearing be held).
or
Simply issuing another denial (the wording of this type of denial letter states "your request for review is denied").

The fourth and final appeal available to a disability claimant is a suit filed in federal district court. This option can be utilized when a claimant's case has been denied by the appeals council.