Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Write An Appeal Request For A Reconsideration Letter

Draft your reconsideration letter on a computer.


Appeals processes begin with formal requests. Whether you are appealing to a government agency on entitlement matters or appealing a hiring decision set forth by your business, a reconsideration letter marks your initial step. Reconsideration letters set in motion matters regarding the redetermination of a decision. In many instances -- Social Security and Medicare matters, for example -- reconsiderations are overseen by a third party in the administration who reviews both the facts of the case and your grounds for redetermination.


Instructions


1. Draft the reconsideration letter within 60 days of the initial decision. Government agencies, for example, will only consider matters for appeal if submitted within this time frame. Address the letter to superiors involved in the matter -- government administrators or your professional supervisor, for example. Keep the tone of your letter formal and polite. Make sure the language of the letter is clear, concise and accurate -- at all times.


2. Explain why you disagree with the initial decision. Keep all disagreements formal and professional. Refrain from using personal disagreements -- unless the decision was provably discriminatory -- if at all possible. Use any supporting documentation available to you -- financial records, medical records or employment contracts, for example -- to boost your appeal and substantiate your claim. Include titles, dates and authors of any and all supporting documentation to which you refer.


3. Include any necessary employee or member identification numbers, along with your current contact information. Make two copies of the letter. Print, sign and date the document. Mail the first copy via certified mail to the administrative division handling appeals. Keep the second copy for your own records.

Tags: initial decision, reconsideration letter, supporting documentation