Help with SSDI and SSI disability benefits
Too sick to work? Let’s get you the benefits you’ve already earned.
You focus on your health. We’ll handle the paperwork, the deadlines, and the fight, from your first application through a hearing if it comes to that.
A real person answers, Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm Eastern.
- No fee unless you win
- Free review in about 10 minutes
- Helping families in all 50 states
Free call, real personMonday to Friday, 8am to 7pm Eastern
Already denied?You may have only 60 days to appeal. Read this first
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More than 15 Years helping clients
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More than 12,000 Cases handled
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50 States served
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4.9 out of 5, Average client review rating
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The two programs
SSDI or SSI? Here’s the difference.
Social Security runs two disability programs. They have different rules, and many people don’t know which one fits them. Some people qualify for both.
| At a glance | SSDI Social Security Disability Insurance Based on your work history | SSI Supplemental Security Income Based on financial need |
|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | People who worked and paid Social Security taxes, then became unable to work. | People with a disability who have little income and few savings, even if they haven’t worked much. |
| Work history | NeededUsually about 5 of the last 10 years. Younger workers need less. | Not neededYou can qualify with little or no work history. |
| Savings and income limits | NoneYour savings, your home, and your spouse’s income don’t count against you. | YesSavings generally must be under $2,000 for one person or $3,000 for a couple. Your home and one car don’t count. |
| Monthly amount | Based on what you earned over your working years. Your Social Security statement shows an estimate. | A set federal amount, up to $967 a month in 2025. Some states add a little more. |
| Health coverage | Medicare, after you’ve received benefits for 24 months. | Medicaid, usually right away in most states. |
| When payments start | After a 5-month waiting period from when your disability began. | No waiting period. Payments can start the month after you apply. |
Can I get both?
Yes. If your SSDI payment is small and you have few savings, you may also get SSI to make up some of the difference. We handle these cases too.
Not sure which one fits you?
You don’t have to figure it out. That’s what the free review is for. Ask us to take a look.
How it works
A steady hand from the first call to the first payment.
Applying for disability is slow. That isn’t your fault, and it doesn’t mean something is wrong. Most cases pass through a few stages. We stay with you through every one, and we tell you where things stand.
An honest word about time
A first decision often takes 6 to 8 months. If you need a hearing, the whole process can take more than a year. We can’t make Social Security move faster. We can make sure nothing on our side slows it down, and that you’re never left wondering.
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Free case review
A short phone call. We ask about your health, your work, and where you are in the process. Then we tell you honestly whether we think we can help.
- You
- Tell us what’s going on.
- Us
- Listen, and give you a straight answer.
Today, if you’d like
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We prepare and file your application
We gather your medical records, fill out the long forms, and make sure your records show how your condition affects your daily life. Then we file.
- You
- Sign a few forms.
- Us
- Everything else.
First decision: often 6 to 8 months
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We handle denials and appeals
Many first applications are denied. If yours is, we file the appeal before the deadline and add new medical evidence. The first appeal is called reconsideration: a fresh look at your case by a different reviewer.
- You
- Tell us when mail from Social Security arrives.
- Us
- Meet every deadline.
Often 4 to 7 months
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We represent you at your hearing
If you need a hearing, it’s in front of an Administrative Law Judge, a judge who only hears Social Security cases. We prepare you ahead of time so you know what to expect. On the day, we sit beside you and speak for you.
- You
- Attend by phone, video, or in person.
- Us
- Prepare, present your case, and question any experts.
Wait for a hearing: often about a year
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You receive your benefits
Once you’re approved, you get monthly payments and, in most cases, back pay for the months you waited. You may also qualify for Medicare or Medicaid. We’ll explain what to expect and when.
- You
- Focus on your health.
- Us
- Check that your payments are right.
Already denied?
A denial letter is not the last word.
If you got a letter saying no, you’re far from alone. Most first applications are turned down, about 2 out of 3. Many people stop there. Please don’t.
Appeals are where having someone on your side matters most. At a hearing, a judge looks at your whole case again, often with newer medical records. It’s a real second chance, and it’s worth taking.
What to do this week
- Find your denial letter.It’s usually titled “Notice of Disapproved Claim” or “Notice of Reconsideration.”
- Look at the date at the top.Your appeal deadline counts from that date.
- Call us, or ask for a free review.We’ll file the appeal and take it from there. Keep going to your doctor’s appointments; those records help your case.
The one thing to know: appeal deadlines are short.
You have 60 days to appeal. Social Security assumes your letter reached you 5 days after the date printed on it.
- Letter datePrinted at the top
- + 5 daysAllowed for mail
- + 60 daysTo file your appeal
Missed it? Call anyway. Sometimes a late appeal is still possible if there was a good reason, and we’ll tell you honestly what your options are.
Conditions
Many kinds of illness and injury can qualify.
Here are some of the conditions we see most often. This isn’t a complete list.
It’s about your limits, not just the diagnosis.
Two people with the same diagnosis can get different answers. Social Security looks at what your condition keeps you from doing: sitting, standing, lifting, focusing, remembering, getting through a workday. That’s why detailed medical records matter so much.
Back, neck, and spine
Herniated discs, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, failed back surgery
Heart and circulation
Heart failure, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, peripheral artery disease
Mental health
Depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD, schizophrenia
Cancer
Cancers that have spread, are hard to treat, or come with treatment that keeps you from working
Neurological conditions
Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, stroke, neuropathy, traumatic brain injury
Arthritis and joints
Rheumatoid arthritis, severe osteoarthritis, joint replacements that still limit you
Diabetes complications
Nerve damage, vision loss, kidney problems, amputation
Lungs and breathing
COPD, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, severe asthma
Immune system disorders
Lupus, HIV, inflammatory bowel disease, fibromyalgia
Kidney and liver disease
Chronic kidney disease, dialysis, cirrhosis
Vision and hearing loss
Low vision, blindness, significant hearing loss
Injuries that haven’t healed
Crush injuries, complex fractures, chronic pain after an accident
Don’t see your condition? Many others can qualify, especially when you have more than one health problem. Tell us about yours.
Client stories
In their own words.
Sample stories. Replace with real client testimonials, used with written permission, before launch.
I was denied twice, and I honestly thought that was the end of it. I didn’t have the energy to fight anymore. Ruth told me, “You don’t have to. That’s my job.” She got my records together, she prepared me so I knew what the judge would ask, and she sat right next to me the whole time. I was approved about three months later. I cried in the parking lot.
They returned every call. Every single one.
After her stroke, my mom couldn’t handle the phone calls, so I called for her. They told me exactly what they needed from her and from me, and they never once made me feel like I was in the way. It took about seven months. Knowing where things stood made all the difference.
Results vary. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case depends on its own facts. Client stories are shared with permission, and some details have been changed to protect privacy.
Who you’ll talk to
Real people who do this every day.
When you call, you won’t get passed around. You’ll have a small team that knows your name, your case, and what you’re dealing with.
Sample team profiles. Replace names, photos, bios, and credentials with real staff details before launch.
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Ruth Okafor
Attorney
Ruth has represented people at disability hearings for 14 years. Before law school she worked as a home health aide, which is where she first saw how hard this system is to get through alone. She lives outside Columbus with her husband and a very old beagle.
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Marcus Hill
Intake Advocate
Most people’s first call is with Marcus. He spent 20 years as a union electrician until a back injury ended his career, and he went through the SSDI process himself. He knows what that first call feels like.
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Daniel Brandt
Senior Disability Advocate
Daniel has prepared thousands of applications and appeals. He’s known around the office for one rule: no form leaves the building until he’s read every line twice.
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Teresa Lin
Case Manager
Teresa is the one who calls your doctors’ offices so you don’t have to. She is patient, organized, and does not let a records request sit. Clients say she’s the reason they always knew what was happening.
Questions
Questions people ask us most.
Don’t see yours? Call us. We’re glad to answer anything, even if you’re not ready to start.
Sometimes, yes. You can work a little. But if you earn more than about $1,620 a month (2025), Social Security usually decides you’re able to work. They call this limit “substantial gainful activity.”
Your hours, your duties, and any special help from your employer can matter too. Talk with us before you take on more work, so it doesn’t hurt your claim.
Honestly, it can take a while. A first decision often comes in 6 to 8 months. If you need to go to a hearing, the full process can take a year or more.
We’ll keep you updated so you’re not left guessing. If your condition is very severe or you’re in financial crisis, we’ll ask Social Security to speed up your case when the rules allow.
Please don’t give up. Many people are approved on appeal. You usually have 60 days to appeal, counted from when you receive your denial letter. Call us as soon as you can, and we’ll file the appeal and take it from there.
No. We request them from your doctors, hospitals, and clinics for you. It helps if you can tell us where you’ve been treated and roughly when. A handwritten list, or a photo of your pill bottles, is plenty to start.
No. There’s nothing to pay to get started, and no fee at all unless you win. If you do win, our fee comes from your back pay and is limited by federal law.
Yes, and many families do. A spouse, son, daughter, or friend can call us and start the conversation. Before we can act for you with Social Security, we’ll need to speak with you briefly, and you’ll sign a form giving us permission.
No. You can apply directly with Social Security at no cost, online at ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-772-1213. Many people choose to get help because the forms are long, the rules are complicated, and appeals have strict deadlines.
Not much. It helps to know roughly when you stopped working, the names of your doctors or clinics, and whether you’ve applied before. If you have a letter from Social Security, keep it nearby.
If you don’t have any of that handy, call anyway. We can start with whatever you have.
Whenever you’re ready
You don’t have to figure this out alone.
One phone call. No cost, no pressure, and an honest answer about whether we can help.
Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm Eastern.
Calling after hours? Leave a message and we’ll call you back the next business day.
Request your free case review
It takes about a minute. We’ll call you; you don’t have to call us.