SSDRC




Resource Questions:

The Levels Of The Social Security Disability and SSI Application and Appeal Process

Qualifications for SSI and Social Security Disability

Social Security Disability Status

SSI Disability - Filing for SSI Benefits

What is Social Security Back Pay?

Receiving a Social Security Disability Award Letter

What is the Social Security Disability List of Impairments?

Are children eligible to receive disability benefits?

Social Security Disability--Permanent Disability

What is the Social Security definition of disability?

Social Security Disability SSI List of Conditions and Impairments

How to Apply for Disability - What medical conditions can you apply for disability for?

Working and Disability - Are You Allowed to Work While Receiving Social Security Disability or SSI?

How do I request a social security disability hearing - How do I file?

Filing a Social Security Disability Application - How to File & the Information that is Needed by SSA

Social Security Temporary Disability - Can I get temporary benefits?

How to qualify for disability - The Process of Qualifying

Social Security Disability SSI Eligibility Requirements and Criteria


Do Most People Need To See A Judge To Get Disability Benefits From Social Security?


How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits



Unfortunately, most people do need to see a judge to get disability benefits from Social Security. Social Security has a very strict evaluation process that includes impairment listings that address illnesses and disorders for all body systems. These impairment listings set forth the criteria needed to meet or equal the severity requirements for the social security disability program.

Individuals who meet or equal an impairment listing will not need to see a judge to get disability benefits. Additionally, individuals who have residual functional capacity ratings that are severely restricted may be able to get disability benefits on the basis of a medical-vocational disability approval.

Medical vocational disability approvals are based upon an individual’s age, education, work history, and residual functional capacity. If an individual cannot get disability benefits approved by meeting or equaling the criteria of an impairment listing (for instance, the impairment list for rheumatoid arthritis, or the impairment listing for lupus, or the impairment listing for depression or bipolar) or through a medical vocational allowance for their initial disability claim, they will have to use the Social Security disability appeal process if they still hope to be approved for disability benefits.

Approval rates for initial disability claims (initial claims are disability applications) are at about thirty-five percent, meaning that about 65 percent of initial claims are denied. Only about ten or fifteen percent of cases are approved at the first appeal level, the reconsideration appeal level.

This means that if one hundred people filed an initial disability claim, only about thirty-five would get disability benefits. And if the sixty-five individuals who were denied at the initial disability claim level filed a reconsideration appeal, only ten to fifteen of those who appealed would get disability benefits. Meaning: out of the original one hundred individuals who filed a claim, there would still be fifty-five individuals who would need to see a judge to get disability benefits from Social Security.

While these approval rates are discouraging, individuals who have to see a judge have the best chance of being approved for disability out of all of the levels of the Social Security disability process. National approval rates for administrative law judges average about sixty-six percent.

The worst thing about having to see a judge to get disability benefits is the wait for a disability hearing. Social Security hearing offices across the country have large backlogs of hearing requests and are receiving record numbers of new hearing requests. This has resulted in a long wait for a disability hearing. Many people are waiting twelve months or more for a hearing and, while their chances are good for an approval of disability benefits, there is no guarantee that they will get disability from Social Security even if they see a judge.









Questions and Answers


1. How to File for Disability - Tips from an Insider

2. Mental Disability Benefits - What Social Security will Consider

3. Social Security Back Pay

4. How to Claim Disability When you Have a Medical Problem

5. Social Security Disability Requirements

6. Filing for Social Security disability- what to bring when you apply

7. Social Security Disability Review

8. Medicare and Disability - Basic Facts

9. Social Security Hearing- How do I Request one, how long will it take?

10. Social Security Disability Hearings - What is the ALJ

11. Disability Lawyer - What does one do to help you?

12. Disability Hearing - How do I request one?

13. Disability Attorney - Does Social Security pay the fee?

14. Social Security Disability Attorney- do I need one to win my case?

15. Social Security Disability Award Letter

16. SSI for children?

17. Social Security Disability Status

18. Social Security Disability Application

19. Disability Attorneys- Will they do your forms for you?

20. Supplemental Security Income - SSI Disability?

21. Social Security Attorneys

22. How much can I get in Social Security Disability Income?

23. Disability Hearings - how many are won?

24. Social Security Disability Hearings - what to expect

25. Social Security Temporary Disability

26. Social Security Disability Back pay

27. SSI Award Letter

28. SSI Benefits-who is Eligible and How do I apply?

29. Continuing Disability Review

30. Vocational expert at a disability hearing - what is this

31. Social Security Disability Children Benefits

32. Medical Disability- How does Social Security view your work and medical records

33. Disability and Medicare- how does it work

34. SSI Benefits - what do they include and how long does it take

35. Disability Status - when should I call to check

36. How much does disability pay

37. Social Security appeal- Is it better to appeal if your disability is denied?

38. Social Security Disability Appeal - It's Usually Good Advice

39. Social Security Disability Approval Process

40. Filing for Social Security Disability — the steps to take

41. Possible Advice If You Are Filing For Disability

42. Social Security Disability Help

43. Social Security Disability Tips — how a claim gets worked on

44. Social Security Disability — when to file

45. The Social Security Disability Decision and Your Ability to Work

46. What Determines Social Security Disability Income?

47. Request for a Disability Hearing

48. Social Security Disability Claims and Medical Exams

49. Social Security Disability Claim Status

50. Social Security Disability Approvals - Medical Conditions and Getting Approved

51. Social Security Disability--Permanent Disability

52. SSDI Decision, SSI Decison - How long does it take?

53. What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits

54. What Do I Do to File a Social Security Disability Appeal

55. What to Do After You Apply for Disability

56. Why is the Social Security Disability Decision Process So Slow

57. Winning a Social Security Disability Appeal or SSI Appeal

58. Winning at a Social Security Disability Hearing

59. Lawyer for Social Security Disability--will I need one

60. Using an Attorney for Social Security Disability

61. What Will a Disability Lawyer Do to Win a Social Security Case?

62. Filing for SSI Disability

63. Social Security Disability and Medication

64. Will Your Claim for Disability be Handled Differently if it is Based on a Physical or Mental Problem?

65. Can you get Social Security Disability or SSI for a short period of time, i.e. Temporary Disability?

66. Can a Congressional Inquiry Really Help Your Disability Case?

67. What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability Benefits?

68. Can You File For Disability While Receiving Unemployment?

69. Do the Results of the Social Security Psychological Exam have any Bearing on Being Approved?

70. The difference between an Application for disability and a Social Security Reconsideration?

71. Does Level of Education or Age Matter for Social Security Disability or SSI?

72. What does the Severity of your impairment have to do with Your Disability Claim?

73. Receiving Disability Benefits from Social Security is harder at the first two levels than at a Hearing

74. Inability to Work and Eligibility for Social Security Disability and SSI Benefits

75. Proving Functional Limitations and why this is Important on a Disability Case

76. What are the Odds or Chances of Being Approved for Disability?

77. Should you get a Statement from a Personal Physician for your SSD or SSI Disability Case?

78. Who is the DDS Doctor, i.e. the Social Security Doctor?

79. What makes you eligible for Social Security Disability or SSI?

80. Social Security Disability, SSI, and Residual Functional Capacity, RFC

81. What Benefits come with SSI Disability?

82. What conditions do they Award Disability Benefits for?

83. What makes you entitled to receive disability benefits under SSI or SSD?

84. What makes a person eligible to receive disability benefits?