---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 C.F.R. § 404.911"
title: "20"
number: "404.911"
heading: "Good cause for missing the deadline to request review."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/20/404.911"
---

# §404.911. Good cause for missing the deadline to request review.

- (a) In determining whether you have shown that you had good cause for missing a deadline to request review we consider—
  - (1) What circumstances kept you from making the request on time;
  - (2) Whether our action misled you;
  - (3) Whether you did not understand the requirements of the Act resulting from amendments to the Act, other legislation, or court decisions; and
  - (4) Whether you had any physical, mental, educational, or linguistic limitations (including any lack of facility with the English language) which prevented you from filing a timely request or from understanding or knowing about the need to file a timely request for review.
- (b) Examples of circumstances where good cause may exist include, but are not limited to, the following situations:
  - (1) You were seriously ill and were prevented from contacting us in person, in writing, or through a friend, relative, or other person.
  - (2) **There was a death or serious illness in your immediate family.**
  - (3) **Important records were destroyed or damaged by fire or other accidental cause.**
  - (4) You were trying very hard to find necessary information to support your claim but did not find the information within the stated time periods.
  - (5) You asked us for additional information explaining our action within the time limit, and within 60 days of receiving the explanation you requested reconsideration or a hearing, or within 30 days of receiving the explanation you requested Appeal Council review or filed a civil suit.
  - (6) We gave you incorrect or incomplete information about when and how to request administrative review or to file a civil suit.
  - (7) **You did not receive notice of the determination or decision.**
  - (8) You sent the request to another Government agency in good faith within the time limit and the request did not reach us until after the time period had expired.
  - (9) Unusual or unavoidable circumstances exist, including the circumstances described in [paragraph (a)(4)](#a-4) of this section, which show that you could not have known of the need to file timely, or which prevented you from filing timely.

## Notes

### Amendments

[45 FR 52081, Aug. 5, 1980, as amended at 59 FR 1634, Jan. 12, 1994]

### Authority

Authority: Secs. 201(j), 204(f), 205(a)-(b), (d)-(h), and (j), 221, 223(i), 225, and 702(a)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401(j), 404(f), 405(a)-(b), (d)-(h), and (j), 421, 423(i), 425, and 902(a)(5)); sec. 5, Pub. L. 97-455, 96 Stat. 2500 (42 U.S.C. 405 note); secs. 5, 6(c)-(e), and 15, Pub. L. 98-460, 98 Stat. 1802 (42 U.S.C. 421 note); sec. 202, Pub. L. 108-203, 118 Stat. 509 (42 U.S.C. 902 note).

### Amendments

[45 FR 52081, Aug. 5, 1980, as amended at 59 FR 1634, Jan. 12, 1994]