Alright so just to start out, I've already spoken to an SSA phone agent, and I plan on emailing my lawyer as well.

Here's what's going on. I had my hearing on March 12, 2020, and I got an unfavorable decision two weeks later on March 31, 2020. I immediately emailed my lawyer, and she wants me to tackle things from a mental health perspective. Yes, the SSA pays for an appointment with a psychiatrist, but it's one appointment for a whopping 15 minutes, and it's not enough to yield any additional diagnoses or impact my case in a substantial way.

I cant drive due to my disability, and I'm indigent because I can't work. And thus began y search for an indigent, virtual psychiatrist. Therapists and crisis chat lines won't help me at this point. I need medical records and diagnoses to give my lawyer. I must have called 50 places. All of them either wanted hundreds of dollars up front, or they didn't have telecare/virtual appointments. I did find ONE local place that fits the bill, but they want me to go out, get indigent documentation, deliver it in person, then see a primary care doc, then they will refer me . . . in the middle of a national pandemic. I have immune deficiency issues (more on that in a sec), so that's practically a death sentence. Not only that, but establishing the diagnoses I need is going to require ongoing care over multiple visits, which takes more time.

Not only that, but I am trying to get to the bottom of said immune deficiency issues. Immune deficiency issues are very difficult to diagnose in the best of circumstances, so you can imagine how it will be for an indigent patient. I found an immunologist who can help, but they're switching to virtual appointments for the COVID pandemic. I need testing, which can only happen in person. And a friend of mine, who is going to the same doctor, couldn't get another appointment until October. I also have to factor in the time it takes to get the results of this testing. So all of that, once again, takes even more time.

So the fact is that I need a lot more time to compile additional medical evidence because of COVID-19 and because of the complicated nature of my case. The SSA phone agent told me that I should go ahead and file the appeal now, either on paper or online. (BTW, Is this the correct place to file an appeal for a hearing decision??) In that appeal, said the phone agent, I can explain everything I have explained above. But I don't trust anything at this point. Was she right?

So my two questions are this:

1. Is this the correct place to file an appeal online if you've already had an unfavorable hearing, and you're appealing that decision? To be clear, I've already appealed the initial two denials that almost everyone receives after applying. I've already had my hearing, and this appeal is for an unfavorable hearing decision.
2. What should I do? More specifically, how should I handle this/move forward? Meaning the need for an appeal with time complications.

Thanks.