Sponsors
The bill strengthens claimants' appeal rights and access to hearings by eliminating mandatory reconsideration, but risks larger SSA workloads, higher costs, and longer waits for benefits unless the agency receives sufficient resources.
People applying for Social Security Title II or XVI benefits — including people with disabilities and seniors — can bypass mandatory reconsideration and request a formal (including in-person) administrative hearing, strengthening appeals access and due process.
Speeds access to administrative hearings, which may shorten time to final decisions and benefits for eligible individuals (particularly low-income people and disabled claimants).
Reduces procedural barriers and administrative burden by eliminating a required reconsideration step, making the appeals process easier to navigate for applicants.
Removing mandatory reconsideration could increase demand for hearings and, if SSA lacks capacity, lead to longer wait times for claimants (especially people with disabilities and seniors).
Higher administrative hearing volume will raise SSA operating costs and may require additional federal funding or reallocation of resources, imposing costs on taxpayers and potentially diverting funds from other services.
Even with the right to request a hearing, claimants may still face uncertainty and delayed benefits if hearings cannot be staffed promptly, undermining the intended speed and relief.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires SSA to provide a hearing on request for initial Title II or XVI decisions and bars mandatory reconsideration before that hearing.
Introduced April 23, 2026 by Valerie Foushee · Last progress April 23, 2026
Requires the Social Security Commissioner to give an applicant or beneficiary a hearing if they request one for any initial decision under Social Security Retirement/Disability (Title II) or Supplemental Security Income (Title XVI), and bars requiring a prior reconsideration step before that hearing. The change applies to initial Title II or XVI decisions made one year after the law is enacted.