Well of course you begin with an initial application. Once you’ve filed your initial application with Social Security then the file is put together by the local Social Security Disability office and then it is sent to the state agency where they are the ones who actually make the decision on whether you are disabled or not. At times they may send you out to a Doctor or they may not. But they ultimately will make a decision, the initial decision.  If its positive then basically you proceed to the various steps to get your Disability Benefits and your Medicaid or Medicare. If there is a denial you then must file an appeal called a  reconsideration and then it is sent back to the state agency where another decision is made. Frequently the second level or the reconsideration results in a denial statistically the fewest cases are apptoved at that level. If you are denied at the reconsideration appeal level then the next step is to appeal and have a hearing with a Social Security Disability Judge. If you are denied you can keep appealing. You can go to the appeals council. If your denied there you can go into Federal Court. If  your denied in the Federal District Court you can even appeal up to the United Stated Supreme Court. And maybe once ever year or two there is actually a Social Security Disability case that gets up there. I hate to even think about how much work that would be and I hope none of you have to go up the U.S. Supreme Court.