Unfortunately I'm in the UK so it's a little different. You apply, then if that fails you get a mandatory reconsideration where they look again at your application. Then if *that* fails you get to go to an appeal where it's heard by a judge and they make a decision. That's what mine was yesterday and they ruled that I didn't get enough points to qualify. I can reapply, but I'd start a new claim which means I lose all the backpay between when it stopped (last September) and now. Plus I have to go through the whole application process again and have another assessment.