Overview
Getting a “no” from a government agency, whether it’s DDA, DSHS, DVR, Social Security, or Medicaid, can feel final. It isn’t. Washington State gives every person the right to challenge a denied service, reduction, or termination of benefits through a formal process called an administrative hearing. And for Social Security benefits, there’s a parallel appeals process through the SSA. This page is your plain-language guide to understanding your options and taking action, without needing a law degree to follow it.
The most important thing to know upfront: deadlines are real and strict. Missing an appeal deadline can mean losing your right to challenge a decision, so acting quickly matters more than acting perfectly.
Step 1: Understand Why You Were Denied Service
When DSHS denies, reduces, or terminates a benefit or service, they are required by law to send you a written notice explaining the decision. That notice must include:
- The reason for the decision
- The specific rule or law they used to make it
- Your right to request a hearing
- The deadline for requesting a hearing
Read this notice carefully. Common reasons for denial include missing documentation, an income or resource determination, a finding that eligibility criteria weren’t met, or a procedural issue (like a missed appointment or unreturned form). Sometimes a simple correction — providing missing information or clarifying a misunderstanding — resolves the issue before a formal appeal is needed.
Step 2: Talk to Your Worker or Supervisor First
Before filing a formal appeal, you can, and often should, contact your DSHS worker or their supervisor to ask for an explanation and provide any missing or corrected information. This informal step sometimes resolves the issue faster than a hearing. Supervisors are required to respond in writing within 10 days if you write to them; office administrators must also respond within 10 days if the supervisor review doesn’t resolve the issue.
Step 3: Request a Formal Administrative Hearing (DSHS Decisions)
If informal steps don’t work, or if you want to pursue both simultaneously, you can request an administrative hearing through the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH), which is a separate agency from DSHS. Administrative hearings are conducted by an independent Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).
Deadline: You generally have 90 days from the date of the notice to request a hearing for most DSHS benefits (some programs have shorter deadlines, check your notice carefully).
How to request a hearing:
- Phone: Call DSHS at 1-877-501-2233 or the OAH Call Center at 1-800-583-8271
- Online: Visit oah.wa.gov and click “How do I Request a hearing”
- In writing: Mail to Office of Administrative Hearings, PO Box 42489, Olympia, WA 98504-2489
- Fax: (360) 664-8721
- In person: Visit any DSHS office and make an oral request or complete a Request for Hearing form (DSHS 5-013)
Your request should include: what decision you’re appealing, the date you were notified, and why you disagree with the decision. You don’t have to use legal language — plain words are fine.
Important: Continued Benefits During a Hearing
If you are currently receiving a benefit and DSHS is proposing to reduce or terminate it, you may be able to request that benefits continue at the current level while your hearing is pending, as long as you request the hearing before the effective date of the change. Ask about this when you file.
Step 4: Prepare for Your Hearing
You have the right to represent yourself or to bring a representative, a family member, advocate, or attorney. The hearing can be held in person or by teleconference.
Bring or submit:
- Your denial notice
- Any documentation that supports your case (medical records, financial records, letters from providers)
- A written explanation of why you believe the decision was wrong
Washington PAVE (for special education decisions) and Washington Law Help (for DSHS benefits) offer free guidance for families preparing for hearings. Legal aid organizations may also provide representation at no cost.
Step 5: After the Hearing
The ALJ will issue a written decision. If the decision goes in your favor, DSHS must implement it — often including reinstating or authorizing benefits retroactively. If it goes against you, you can:
- Request review by the DSHS Board of Appeals (BOA) within 21 days of the initial decision
- Petition Superior Court for judicial review of the final decision
Appealing Social Security Decisions (SSI / SSDI)
The SSA has its own four-level appeals process for denied SSI and SSDI applications:
- Reconsideration — A different SSA reviewer looks at your case (must be requested within 60 days of denial)
- Hearing by an ALJ — An in-person or video hearing with an Administrative Law Judge (must be requested within 60 days of reconsideration denial)
- Appeals Council Review — The SSA’s Appeals Council reviews the ALJ’s decision
- Federal Court — A lawsuit in U.S. District Court
For SSI/SSDI, missing the 60-day deadline at any level can mean starting over from the beginning, so timely action is critical.
Appealing DDA Service Decisions
If DDA denies or reduces a specific service or waiver, the same DSHS administrative hearing process applies. Contact your DDA case manager first to ask about the decision and review your options — then request a hearing through OAH if the issue isn’t resolved.
Free Help Is Available
- Washington Law Help — Plain-language guides on appealing DSHS decisions: washingtonlawhelp.org
- Washington PAVE — Free support for families navigating special education appeals: wapave.org
- Disability Rights Washington — Legal advocacy for people with disabilities facing benefit denials: disabilityrightswa.org
- Columbia Legal Services — Free legal help for low-income Washington residents: columbialegal.org
Request a Hearing — OAH Website | Washington Law Help | DSHS Administrative Hearings Overview
