Denied?

Denied SSI Benefits? What to Do Next

Tom Nash leads a team of lawyers at Nash Disability Law who take time getting to know Chicagoans when they need to appeal for SSI benefits.

Get help turning your denial into an approval

When you receive a denial of your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) application, it can be devastating. You were counting on those benefits to pay for food, housing or transportation.

But don’t give up hope!

Most people get denied when they first apply for SSI. At Nash Disability Law, we strongly urge you to consider appealing the decision to the Social Security Administration. Appeals are when many people win benefits.

At this stage in the process, it can make a big difference to have a disability attorney who builds the strongest case for you. And it doesn’t cost anything to try. We evaluate your case for free. We don’t charge a fee unless you win.

As part of your appeal, you may need to see a judge. We will prepare you ahead of time so we can go into your hearing together with confidence. Some lawyers only meet you for the first time just minutes before you talk to a judge.

Social Security Disability law is a separate system from other kinds of law. It has its own rules, procedures, examining doctors, judges and expert hearing witnesses paid by the government. We know the system and the habits of the people within it.

Unlike some law firms that practice many types of law, Nash Disability Law focuses entirely on Social Security Disability cases. We do this to give you the best chance of winning benefits.

If you got an SSI denial and need to appeal, call us today.

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Get help with Chicago SSI appeals from Nash Disability Law.

Don’t delay starting your appeal

The first thing to know about appealing your SSI denial is that you need to move fast.

Important! The Social Security Administration has a strict deadline to appeal.

Call Nash Disability Law right away so you don’t miss the deadline. We’ll make sure your case isn’t lost in the system.
And hold on to all of your records. Social Security can lose or fail to process documents.

Get help with Chicago SSI appeals from Nash Disability Law.

Nash Disability Law helps you through all four levels of the SSI disability appeals process.

What Happens When You Appeal?

Social Security has four levels of appeal for your SSI case:

RECONSIDERATION: Nash Disability Law will help you take your case back to Social Security. You can submit new evidence at this point. And a different person within the Social Security system will review it.
HEARING: If you still get a denial (very, very common), we’ll help you prepare for a hearing with a Social Security administrative law judge (ALJ). This is your only chance to meet face-to-face with someone who has decision-making authority on your case. This is a critical moment. One of our lawyers will prepare your arguments and help you get comfortable and ready to testify. We’ll bring our knowledge of the medical and job experts that Social Security pays to testify about your situation – and how to question them. You need to get the most out of your hearing because it takes a long time to get there. In early 2017, Social Security had a backlog of a million people waiting for hearings. Some people wait 18 months or more.
APPEALS COUNCIL: If the ALJ denies your claim, you can ask for another review by Social Security’s Appeals Council (AC). We will help you decide if you should take this step. The AC reviews whether the ALJ’s decision was legally sound. While the council technically can grant benefits, the most it usually does is send the case back for another hearing.
FEDERAL COURT: If you disagree with the Appeals Council’s decision, we can file a lawsuit in U.S. District Court to argue for your benefits. At this stage, you will need a lawyer registered to practice in federal court, like those at Nash Disability Law.

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Get help with Chicago SSI appeals from Nash Disability Law.

When you need to appeal for SSI benefits, Nash Disability Law analyzes your documents, builds your legal arguments and prepares you to testify.

What does Nash Disability Law do for your appeal?

The first thing to know about appealing your SSI denial is that you need to move fast.

We assess the facts in your situation, getting a bead on what’s important and what’s not.
We analyze your Social Security file.
We obtain additional evidence from doctors and other medical providers.
We build your legal arguments.
We prepare you to testify.
We question witnesses for you.
We cross-examine any medical and vocational experts that the government pays to testify at your hearing.

The experts the government brings in to testify could hurt your chances of winning benefits. But an attorney from Nash Disability Law will be at your side all the way, defending you and questioning them.

Social Security’s own statistics show that people are more successful winning benefits when they have a lawyer. Get one who knows how the system works in the Chicago area.

If you were denied – or if you still need to apply for SSI benefits – call us now.

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