SSDI Process Level Three

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) was created to provide disabled workers money to live on after they are no longer able to work. Sometimes SSDI benefits are short-term, while other recipients of these funds collect for the rest of their lives because their injury or illness is serious enough to prevent them from ever working again. SSDI law is complex, and people are often denied benefits on their first application because the paperwork is confusing, and one mistake can result in your claim being denied.

Many of our clients never would have been approved for SSDI benefits had they not contacted The Cochran Firm. Our SSDI attorneys and legal teams will work tirelessly to help get you the disability benefits to which you are entitled following your injury or illness. A whopping 65% of claims are denied by the Social Security Administration at the first level of the five level process necessary to receive benefits. At the second level, a staggering 87% of first appeals are denied. Please let our Social Security Disability attorneys help you end up in the 13% of applicants that are approved.

Level Three

There are five stages involved in the SSDI process, and each one presents its unique set of challenges. We just described levels one and two of the five level process, and now we are ready to move on to SSDI level three, which is the appeal hearing level. After a denial at the reconsideration stage (level two), you have sixty days to ask for a hearing or "second appeal."

At your appeal hearing, an administrative law judge (ALJ) will make an independent decision based on the evidence presented. Approximately 20 days before your hearing, you will receive a notice in the mail indicating the time, date and location of your appeal hearing. The hearing is typically held within 75 miles of where you live. You and your representative (if you have one) must attend the hearing.

You will need to submit any evidence you want the judge to examine as soon as possible. The judge at your hearing will hear testimony and may question you and/or any witnesses. The ALJ has the right to ask other witnesses (such as medical experts) questions to get additional information regarding your claim. You will answer questions under oath, so you must tell the truth. Your Social Security disability attorney may also question witnesses and submit evidence. The ALJ will make a decision and you and your Social Security disability attorney will be notified of the decision. In some cases, your attorney will ask for a decision on the record, which means the ALJ reviews your claim and makes his/her decision without a hearing.

Please contact the experienced SSDI attorneys at The Cochran Firm today to schedule your confidential consultation to discuss your SSDI case. Let us help you get the SSDI benefits to which you are entitled. We have many offices throughout the United States with local, experienced Social Security disability attorneys, and we can help you the same way we’ve helped thousands of other families all over the country.