The first application sets up everything that follows. The dates you give, the doctors you list and the way you describe your limits all travel with your claim to every later stage. We help you get that first file right.
Is this page for you?
- You have worked and paid Social Security taxes in most recent years
- A physical or mental health condition keeps you from working full time
- Your condition has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months
- You have not applied yet, or you just started and feel unsure
What we do
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1
Check your work credits
We look at your earnings record with you to confirm you are insured for SSDI, and to find your date last insured if you stopped working a while ago.
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2
Set the onset date with care
The date your condition began to stop you from working affects back pay. We pick a date your medical records can support.
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3
List every provider
We build a full list of doctors, clinics, hospitals and therapists so the state agency asks for all of your records, not just some.
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4
Fill in the forms in your words
We help with the disability report and the function report, which ask how your condition affects daily life. Plain, honest detail helps examiners understand your limits.
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5
Follow the claim to a decision
We answer letters from Social Security, help you prepare for any exam they schedule, and keep you posted while you wait.
What to gather
Do not wait to call until you have everything. We can help find what is missing.
- Names, addresses and dates for every doctor, clinic and hospital
- A list of your medicines and who prescribed them
- Your jobs in recent years, with dates and what the work involved
- Any test results, imaging reports or letters from doctors you already have
- Your Social Security number and a way for us to reach you
How long it takes
A first decision often takes several months. We cannot make Social Security move faster, but a complete file avoids extra requests that add more delay.
An honest note
Most first applications are denied, even strong ones. A careful start still matters, because the record you build now follows your claim to every later stage.
Example outcomes
Illustrations written for this sample site. Every claim is different, and past results do not predict yours.
Example outcome · First call
We advised waiting to apply
Retail worker, 38, after back surgery
- The situation
- She was still working full time and earning above Social Security's limit.
- What we did
- We explained the earnings rule and what to watch for if her hours dropped.
- How it ended
- No claim was filed. She knows when to call back.
Advice only, no claim filed
Example outcome · Reconsideration
Approved at reconsideration
Former home health aide, 49, lupus and depression
- The situation
- Her first application left out her rheumatologist and her counselor.
- What we did
- We requested the missing records and therapy notes and filed the appeal well inside the 60 days.
- How it ended
- Approved at reconsideration, without a hearing.
Approved
Common questions
Can I apply on my own?
Yes. Anyone can apply online, by phone or at a local office. Many people do. A representative helps most with the details that are easy to miss, like the onset date and a full list of providers.
How many work credits do I need?
It depends on your age when you became disabled. Many adults need about five years of work in the last ten. We check your actual earnings record with you instead of guessing.
Can I get SSDI and SSI at the same time?
Sometimes. If your SSDI amount is low and your income and savings are very limited, you may qualify for both. We check both programs at the start.