 SSDRC What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? How do you Win Benefits under Social Security Disability or SSI? If I am determined disabled, how far back will Social Security pay benefits? How do you prove your disability case if you have a mental condition? What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits Common Mistakes after Receiving a Denial of Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits How to File for Disability - Tips for Filing If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare? How much does a Social Security disability attorney get paid? Social Security Disability SSI Criteria and the Evaluation Process How long does it take to be approved for SSI or Social Security disability? What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability SSI and Fibromyalgia Social Security Disability SSI and Degenerative Disc Disease Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression? Answers to questions about SSD and SSI disability What Disabilities Qualify for SSI and Social Security Disability Benefits? Social Security Disability Status Social Security Disability Tips — how a claim gets worked on Social Security Disability, SSI Disability - Terms, Definitions, Concepts |
Disability Attorneys- Will they do your forms for you?How to prove you are disabled and win disability benefits What services do Social Security disability attorneys and non-attorney representatives provide for their clients? Some Social Security disability attorneys and non-attorney representatives help their clients file their initial claim. However, most attorneys and non-attorney representatives do not get involved with Social Security disability claims until the appeal process. What do I mean by disability appeals process? If your initial disability claim is denied, you can file an appeal to disagree with the decision made by the state disability-processing agency. This is the agency that handles decision-making on social security disability and SSI claims (usually called DDS, or disability determination services) and this is where your claim is sent after it is has been taken in a local social security office. The state disability agency is also where disability examiners, the individuals who are assigned to process disability claims, are located. There are three levels of appeal within the Social Security disability process; reconsideration, hearings appeal, and appeals council review (there is an appeal step that involves federal district court but this is not part of the social security administration). Your attorney or non-attorney representative generally fills out all of the appeals forms for you. However, your representative may send you disability medical forms and medical release forms to fill out and return to them. Of course, some attorneys and non-attorney representatives fill out the paper work for their clients, if necessary. Since Social Security is moving towards a total electronic disability file, it may be more advantageous for you or your representative to file your Social Security disability forms online on the Social Security Administration website. In the future, entire initial disability claims and disability appeals may be done online, although that is not possible at this time. 
Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page Individual Questions and Answers SSD and SSI are Federal Programs The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here: Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials |