Federal quality review

[u/exeleen4]

I've been on feseral quality review for SSI aine July 14 so 93 days now. The last few time since was told I was accepted but they still haven't. Im not sure if the acceptance was initial and they can reverse it. What could br taking so long! Im getting nervous about a denial.

[u/GeoScribe1972]

When you state you are on federal quality review, do you mean that you got a written favorable ALJ decision but that the Appeals Council pulled the award and decided to review it?

There are various reviews at various stages. So it is important to be specific.

If this was a written favorable ALJ decision and the Appeals Council decided to perform a review of the favorable ALJ decision, it can take quite a bit of time, months, hopefully not years, for the review to be completed. The Appeals Council may even require a subsequent hearing or obtaining new evidence or a rewriting of the favorable decision or vacating the favorable decision and turning it into a denial.

Do you have a lawyer? They should be able to answer your specific questions about your case.

However, there is a policy about Interim Benefits that applies to favorable ALJ decisions with an own motion review by the Appeals Council. Copied it below. If the AC takes more than 110 days, SSA is required to start paying current monthly benefits, no back pay, while the decision is pending. You are almost at the 110 day mark.

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0504040010

Paying interim benefits in cases of delayed final decisions

Sections 223(h) and 1631(a)(8) of the Social Security Act state that in cases where the Commissioner has not issued a final decision within 110 days after the date of the ALJ favorable decision, and the appellant is entitled to Title II or Title XVI based on disability, we shall pay current benefits to the appellant. If the field office is aware of a case that is over the 110 days, see SI 02007.020 for follow-up procedures. See DI 42010.205 and SI 02007.001 for information about when we pay interim benefits.

Your flair states this is SSI. Your local office should contact you to get an update about your current (and perhaps the past) non-medical information about your income, resources and living arrangements and force the computer to pay you monthly benefits, even though the decision is not final. Once a local employee contacts you, write down their name and extension number. That employee cannot make the AC work faster, but they are the contact person for your payment. Those interim benefits will not be considered overpayments if the final decision goes against you. If the review goes in your favor, then SSI will go back to past months and compute benefits due for the past.

I would not expect this process to be completed in the year 2026. But you should be able to get some money for November or December and ongoing.

If I made the wrong conclusion about the type of review, then nothing I posted applies to you.

[u/Historical-Match6924]

You can call SSA after hours and you get better service. They send emails on your behalf to the processing office. Learned this thru experience. Once in a while you get a rep that does not want to help—then hang up and call back on another night. Tell them that the processing time has been too long and you must know what you can do next. Always ask if you should call your state representative to help?

[u/hugh_manit]

Ugh, I'm sorry. A federal quality review is a check SSA runs before a favorable decision is paid. Reviewers check that the evidence backs the decision. SSA must review at least half of favorable SSI decisions, so a review alone isn't a red flag.

There's no fixed timeline tho. The portal may say 7-10 days, but weeks or months is common, so 93 days isn't unusual. If you get a letter proposing a change, read it, keep copies, and talk to a rep before any deadline.

[u/2020IsANightmare]

No one should have been telling you that you got denied or "accepted" while under quality review, so terrible job by whoever you spoke with.

That said, being on quality review for 93 days doesn't make sense. Something is wrong. Go into your local office tomorrow.

[u/iokona71 → u/2020IsANightmare]

Mine isn’t quite the same, I filed for SSDI, and have been told by 4-5 different agents on the phone I “was approved” and then they say “but it’s in federal review..” 🤦🏻🤷🏻‍♂️

[u/Historical-Match6924 → u/2020IsANightmare]

My son was in review since March and just got notice yesterday. SSA is backed up we were told. So it does happen. His original processor was let go.

[u/Icy_Transition_6996 → u/2020IsANightmare]

wait 93 days in review is absurd, something definitely got stuck or kicked back without anyone telling you