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Practice Areas

Social Security Disability

Social Security Topics (Continued)

How do I fill out and file the initial application?

There are three ways to file your initial application; in-person at your nearest local office, by a phone interview, or on the internet. The in-person method is the most immediate, but can involve a long wait at the local office so take a book or magazine. A phone interview can be scheduled by calling 1-800-772-1213 and a representative from your local office will call you on a specified date and time to get the details and then will mail you forms to sign. Internet applications can be completed at your leisure from your home, but you will need a printer to print forms and instructions and envelopes and stamps to send the forms to your local office. With all methods you will need the phone numbers and addresses of all employers and physicians in order to provide the necessary information.

Who files appeals of denials?

You may hire an attorney to assist you with your application or appeals at any point in the process. Typically most attorneys will tell you to handle the initial application and first appeal (reconsideration) on your own and to hire an attorney to assist you with the second appeal (request for a judicial hearing).

You do need to be heavily involved with the initial application, because no one knows the details of your situation better than you do.

Reconsideration is something that most people can do without an attorney, as it primarily requires filing paperwork, which your local office will provide to you. However, you can greatly increase your chances of a successful reconsideration by hiring an attorney to assist you at this point in the process. Many attorneys will not take cases at reconsideration because their fee is based on past due benefits, so they get paid more if your claim is denied a second time. We strongly recommend that you hire an attorney to assist you with any hearing, if you have not already hired an attorney.