The appeal period is generally 60 days. (A claimant has 30 days if he/she wants to file exceptions
with the AC in a case remanded by a Federal court.) The 60 days start the day after
the claimant receives the notice of the determination or decision. The date the claimant
receives the notice is presumed to be 5 days after the date on the notice unless the
claimant can show us that he/she did not receive it within the 5 days.
Exception: If SSA mailed the notice of the determination or decision to a claimant or beneficary
outside the United States, you can extend the 5-day presumed receipt date if circumstances
in a particular case warrant it. Accept the claimant's allegations of foreign mail
delays without supporting evidence unless there is reason to doubt them.
When the period for requesting the next appellate step ends on a Saturday, Sunday,
legal holiday or any other day all or part of which is a nonworkday for Federal employees
by statute or Executive Order, the period is extended to include the next full workday.
See VB 02501.020 for the policy on good cause for extending the appeal period.