Social Security disability.
Most Social Security disability claims are denied at the initial stage, and the difference between approval and another denial often comes down to which level you're at, what's in the medical record, and whether the 60-day appeal deadline gets met. We match you to a Utah, Idaho, or Wyoming attorney whose case history fits your specific stage — initial application, reconsideration, ALJ hearing, Appeals Council, or federal court.
Tell us what happened
Sub-specialties within this area.
SSDI (Title II)
Disability Insurance Benefits for workers who paid into the system long enough to be "insured" (generally 5 of the last 10 years of work for adult claimants, less for younger ones). Benefit amount is tied to past earnings. SSDI requires showing inability to do any substantial gainful activity for at least 12 months — or terminal illness. Medicare kicks in 24 months after the entitlement date. Date Last Insured (DLI) is critical: if your alleged onset is past your DLI, SSDI is barred.
SSI (Title XVI)
Supplemental Security Income for disabled or aged claimants who meet strict income and resource limits — generally $2,000 in countable resources for an individual, $3,000 for a couple, with some categories excluded (one home, one vehicle, retirement of certain types). SSI is means-tested and does not require work history. Medicaid is automatic in most states for SSI recipients. The medical-disability standard mirrors SSDI's, but the financial gate is different.
Concurrent SSDI / SSI
Some claimants qualify for both — low SSDI benefit amount that falls below the SSI federal benefit rate, with low countable resources. Both claims run in parallel through the same disability determination but with separate financial eligibility tracks. Concurrent cases require a specialist who can manage both sets of forms, both timelines, and the SSDI-SSI offset calculation.
Initial application & reconsideration
The initial application is denied roughly 65–70% of the time nationally — usually because the medical record isn't well developed, the function reports don't match the medical evidence, or the claimant is still working at or above Substantial Gainful Activity. Reconsideration is a paper review by a different DDS examiner and has its own denial rate. Building the record correctly at these early stages can save a year-plus of additional waiting later.
ALJ hearing
The single highest-yield stage for represented claimants — administrative-law judges decide cases on the record and on testimony. A treating-provider RFC questionnaire (physical and mental as relevant), a coherent theory of disability tied to the 5-step sequential evaluation, and prepared testimony shape the outcome. The vocational expert's testimony about jobs in the national economy can be challenged when the limitations are properly developed. Hearings are now often by phone or video.
Appeals Council & federal court
After an unfavorable ALJ decision, the next step is the Appeals Council — paper review for legal error, abuse of discretion, or new and material evidence. If the AC denies review or affirms denial, you have 60 days to file in federal district court, which reviews the administrative record under a substantial-evidence standard. Federal-court SSD work is a distinct sub-specialty; not every disability attorney handles it.
Compassionate Allowance & expedited cases
SSA's Compassionate Allowance program fast-tracks certain conditions (ALS, certain cancers, early-onset Alzheimer's, organ failure on a transplant list, and a published list of others) — approvals can come in weeks rather than months. Terminal-illness (TERI) and dire-need (homeless, eviction pending, utility shutoff) cases also qualify for expedited handling. A Wounded Warrior 100% P&T VA rating triggers separate expedited review.
Three steps to the right specialist.
Tell us where you are
A careful AI conversation walks through the facts. Whether you're applying initially, denied at initial or recon, awaiting an ALJ hearing, or past an ALJ decision; the date of the most recent denial (because the 60-day clock matters); your alleged onset date and date last worked; primary impairments and treating providers; any current work or earnings; and for SSDI specifically, whether you know your Date Last Insured. If you're a veteran with a high VA rating, that may unlock expedited handling.
We identify the sub-specialty
Not just "disability" — SSDI, SSI, concurrent SSDI/SSI, federal-court SSD. An ALJ-hearing attorney is a very different fit than a federal-court litigator, and a concurrent claim adds a financial-eligibility layer most generalists miss.
Warm introduction to the right firm
We match you to the firm whose case history fits your sub-type and stage. You're introduced, not handed off. The firm knows about your case before they call — and they know how many days are left on the 60-day appeal clock at your current level.
What we'll ask about.
- Which claim — SSDI (Title II, work-credits-based), SSI (Title XVI, means-tested), or concurrent. Each has different eligibility rules and different evidence priorities.
- Your current stage and the date of the most recent denial — the 60-day appeal deadline runs from the denial date at every level. Missing it usually means starting over from the beginning, and if your DLI has passed by then, SSDI is gone forever.
- Your alleged onset date and your Date Last Insured (for SSDI) — onset must be before DLI for SSDI to be available. If you don't know your DLI, the attorney can pull it from your SSA earnings record.
- Your treating providers and your willingness to follow their recommended treatment — gaps in treatment and non-compliance are routinely cited as reasons for denial. A specialist will know which providers in your area write usable RFC opinions.
- Whether you're working — earning above Substantial Gainful Activity (~$1,620/month non-blind for 2026) is generally a hard bar to disability, with narrow exceptions for unsuccessful work attempts and trial work periods.
- Veteran status and VA rating — a 100% P&T VA rating unlocks Wounded Warrior expedited review; lower VA ratings are supportive evidence but not binding on SSA.
Deadlines to know.
The 60-day appeal deadline at every level is the single biggest deadline trap in SSD practice. Initial denial → reconsideration: 60 days. Recon denial → ALJ hearing request: 60 days. ALJ unfavorable → Appeals Council: 60 days. AC denial → federal court: 60 days. Missing one usually means starting over with a new application — and if your Date Last Insured has passed during the delay, SSDI is barred forever, not just on this claim. Date Last Insured for SSDI is the second biggest deadline trap: onset must be established before DLI for SSDI to be available, regardless of how disabled you are now. Compassionate-Allowance conditions (ALS, certain cancers, early-onset Alzheimer's, others on SSA's published list) qualify for fast-track handling and should be flagged immediately. TERI (terminal illness) and dire-need (homeless, facing eviction or utility shutoff) cases also unlock expedited processing. ALJ hearings scheduled within 60 days need urgent preparation — pre-hearing brief, RFC questionnaires from treating providers, and witness coordination. A 100% P&T VA rating triggers Wounded Warrior expedited handling on a separate track.
What people ask.
SSD attorney fees are federally capped and contingent — paid only if you win. The standard fee is 25% of back-due benefits, capped at $9,200 for cases decided on or after November 30, 2024 (SSA periodically adjusts the cap). No fee is paid out of ongoing monthly benefits. Federal-court appeals can carry separate EAJA fees paid by the government when you prevail. There's no fee for talking to us or for the introduction.
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