2726. U.S. District Court

2726.1 When do you file for civil action in a U.S. District Court?

If you are not satisfied with the Appeals Council decision or its notice of denial of your request for review of the ALJ's decision, you may file for civil action in a U.S. District Court. You may file within 60 days after the date you received notice of the Appeals Council decision or denial. (See section 2621.3 for information about when we presume you received our notice.) You have no right to court review where the Appeals Council has dismissed your request for review or denied your request for review of the dismissal of an ALJ decision.

2726.2 What actions may the court take?

The court may enter a judgment affirming, modifying or reversing our decision, with or without sending the case back to us. Under certain circumstances, the court may return your case to us so that we can obtain additional evidence before the court enters a judgment.

Last Revised: Apr. 18, 2006