I was already denied. Is it over?

No. Roughly two-thirds of first applications are denied, often for evidence and paperwork gaps rather than medical merit. You generally have 60 days from the date on the denial letter to appeal.

How long does the process take?

An initial decision usually takes 6 to 8 months. Reconsideration adds several more months. Hearing wait times vary widely by hearing office.

What is the difference between SSDI and SSI?

SSDI is an insurance benefit earned through work credits and based on earnings history. SSI is needs-based for people with very limited income and resources regardless of work history.

Applying For SSDI? Get It Right The First Time

Q: What does this cost me?

Nothing upfront and nothing if you lose. If you are approved, Social Security pays the representative fee directly out of back pay, capped by federal law at 25% of back pay, up to a maximum the Social Security Administration sets each year. Ongoing monthly benefits are not touched.

Who we help

Sound like you? Make the call.

A man with a knee brace calling from his couch

Back, knee or joint pain keeps you homeCall free

A woman in a back brace on the phone by a window

A condition stopped you workingCall free

A worried woman reading a letter at her table

Confused by the forms or a letterCall free

A man with a forearm crutch walking with his daughter

50+ and your body can't keep upCall free

Tap. Talk. Know.

Here's exactly what happens when you call.

No forms first. No phone tree. A real advocate picks up and walks you through it.

A friendly Disabilift advocate on a call

A real advocate, not a call center

You tell us your story onceYour condition, when you stopped working, and where your claim stands.
We check if you qualifyWork credits, age and medical records, in plain English. About 5 minutes.
You get a clear next stepIf we can help, we build your file. If not, we tell you who can.

Start my free call

Your SSDI roadmap

From first call to first check, step by step.

Social Security works in a fixed order and every stage has a deadline. Here is the road, and the same advocate stays with you the whole way.

You are hereToday
Free review call
We check your work credits, age and when you last worked, and tell you plainly if it makes sense to apply now.
Weeks 1–4
We build your file
Medical records from every provider, work history, and your limitations written the way Social Security scores them.
Filing day
Your application goes in complete
Every form, every signature. Complete files are what get approved the first time.
About 6–8 months
Social Security decides
We answer every follow-up request and medical exam notice so nothing slows your claim down.
Only if denied
Appeal and hearing
You generally have 60 days to appeal. We handle reconsideration and represent you at the hearing.
The goal
Approved: monthly benefits + back pay
Your fee, if any, comes only from back pay and is capped by federal law. Your monthly checks are never touched.

Start at step 1: call free

The hard truth

About 2 in 3 first applications are denied.

Usually not because the person isn't disabled, but because something was missing. These are the gaps an advocate closes before you file.

A woman worried about a denial letter and deadline

60 days to appeal

of first SSDI applications are turned down

Roughly, based on Social Security's published initial-decision averages.

Approximate approval rate by stage

Rounded national averages. Your odds depend on your own evidence.

First application ~38%

Reconsideration ~14%

Hearing before a judge ~50%

Getting the first application right is the cheapest win there is. That's where we start.

Missing medical recordsOne clinic or test result left out can sink a claim.→ We request records from every provider

Limitations described the wrong way"Back pain" isn't scored. What you can't do all day is.→ We write it the way Social Security measures it

Working over the monthly limitEarning above Social Security's limit usually means a denial.→ We check this before you file

Missed forms and deadlinesLate function reports and exam notices stall or end claims.→ We track every deadline for you

Don't get denied. Call first

Do I qualify?

Four questions decide most SSDI claims.

If you can answer yes all the way down, you may have a strong case. Not sure about one? That's exactly what the free call is for.

1Has your condition stopped you working for 12+ months?Or is it expected to

YES

2Can you no longer do the work you used to do?Social Security looks at your past jobs first

YES

3Did you work about 5 of the last 10 years?No? You may still qualify for SSI instead

YES

4Are you earning under Social Security's monthly limit?The limit changes every year

YES

You may qualify for SSDI.

Let an advocate confirm it in a 5-minute call.

Call (888) 721-8630

What we do for you

You focus on your health. We handle Social Security.

A Disabilift advocate taking a free case review call

Step 1 · Today

A free review by phone

Tell us your story once.

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Two advocates reviewing a client file together

Step 2 · Weeks 1–4

Your file, built properly

Every record, every form.

↗

A happy couple reading a letter at their kitchen table

Step 3 · Through award

With you to the decision

Appeals and hearings included.

↗

Swipe →

Qualifying conditions

Is your condition on the list?

Social Security scores what you can still do, not just the diagnosis. Tap yours.

What it stops you doing is what counts

Check my case free

Benefit estimator

What might your monthly check look like?

SSDI is based on what you paid in, not how severe your condition is. Move the sliders.

Average yearly earnings $48,000A rough average of your working years, before tax.

Your age 52Age 50+ changes how Social Security judges retraining.

Months since you stopped working 14This drives back pay. The first five months are never paid.

Years you worked and paid in 22Under 5 years of recent work usually points to SSI.

Estimated monthly benefit

$1,640

SSDI · based on your earnings record

Possible back pay$14,760

Over 10 years$196,800

Have an advocate check this

Estimate only, from the published Social Security benefit formula. Not a quote or promise. Your award depends on your full earnings record and onset date.

Myth or fact?

Six things people get wrong about SSDI.

Most people who never apply believe at least one of these. Tap each card to see what's actually true.

Swipe for more →

0 of 6 myths busted

Are you ready to apply?

Your SSDI application checklist.

Tick off what you already have. Missing pieces are the number one reason first applications are denied, and they are exactly what an advocate gathers for you.

Medical records, a stethoscope and a checklist on a table

Have these ready, or we gather them

My condition has lasted, or will last, 12 months or moreThis is the first thing Social Security checks.

I know the date I had to stop workingYour onset date decides how much back pay you can get.

I have a list of every doctor, clinic and hospitalNames, addresses, phone numbers and rough visit dates.

I have a list of my current medicationsInclude the dose and who prescribed each one.

I know where my test results areMRIs, X-rays, blood work, therapy notes.

I can list the jobs I held in the last 5 yearsJob titles, dates, and what the work physically involved.

I have my latest W-2 or tax returnSelf-employed? Your last return instead.

I have my bank details for direct depositRouting and account number, so payments aren't delayed.

$0Upfront. Nothing if you're not approved.

60 daysTypical time limit to appeal a denial.

5 minFor a free review of your case by phone.

50 statesWe help claimants nationwide.

Apply for SSDI

How to apply for SSDI disability benefits, step by step.

Whether you want to apply for Social Security disability (SSDI) or apply for SSI disability, the steps to file a disability claim are the same. Here is the best way to apply for disability, and where an advocate makes the difference.

Check that you qualify.Your medical condition has to keep you from working for at least 12 months. For SSDI you also need enough work credits; SSI is based on limited income instead.
Gather your medical records and work history.Doctors, hospitals, medications, dates you stopped working and the jobs you held in the last 5 years. Most claims that fail are missing something here.
File your SSDI claim.You can file for Social Security disability online at ssa.gov, by phone or at a local office, or have a disability claim advocate help you file it so nothing is left out.
Answer Social Security's follow-up.Function reports, work history forms and sometimes a medical exam. Late or thin answers are a common reason claims are denied.
If you are denied, appeal within 60 days.Most denials can be appealed. See how an SSDI appeal works.

Need help applying for SSDI? A Disabilift Social Security disability advocate can help with your disability claim from the first form to the decision, including representation for your SSDI claim if it goes to a hearing. We help people in all 50 states by phone, so wherever you live there is an SSDI advocate near you. Disabilift is a private advocacy firm and is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration.

Call for free help

Straight answers

The questions everybody asks first.

What does this cost me?

Nothing upfront and nothing if you lose. If you're approved, Social Security pays us directly out of your back pay — capped by federal law at 25% of back pay, up to a maximum the Social Security Administration sets each year. Your ongoing monthly checks are never touched.

How do I apply for SSDI?

You can apply for SSDI online at ssa.gov, by phone, or at a Social Security office. The application asks for your medical providers, treatment dates and work history. The best way to apply for disability is with your records organized before you file, because the first application is what every later decision is judged against. An advocate can help you file it.

Can a disability advocate help with my claim?

Yes. A Social Security disability advocate can help you apply, gather medical evidence, meet deadlines and represent you if your claim goes to an appeal or hearing. You pay nothing upfront; the fee is only paid from back pay if you are approved, and it is capped by federal law.

Should I hire an advocate for SSDI?

You do not have to, but professional help with a disability claim often prevents the paperwork gaps that get first applications denied. Our SSDI disability assistance covers the application, medical evidence and every deadline, whether your condition is long-term or a permanent disability. Disability claims assistance from us costs nothing upfront and nothing if you are not approved.

Is there an SSDI advocate near me?

We help people in every state by phone, so you do not need an office nearby. Hearings are often held by phone or video too. Call and an advocate will review your disability claim with you the same day.

Do I have to have been denied already?

No. Most of the people we help are applying for the first time, or are about to. Getting an advocate involved before the application goes in is the single most useful thing you can do, because the first file is what everything afterwards is judged against.

Can't I just apply myself?

Yes, and it costs nothing to do so at ssa.gov. People call us because roughly two-thirds of first applications are turned down — often for paperwork and evidence gaps rather than medical merit — not because filing costs money.

I was already denied. Is it too late?

No. You generally have 60 days from the date on the letter to appeal, and many denials are overturned later. How appeals work. If that clock has run out, call anyway; there are limited good-cause exceptions.

How long does the whole thing take?

An initial decision usually takes 6–8 months, and that clock only starts once the application is in — which is why filing it complete matters. Reconsideration adds several more. If it reaches a hearing, the wait varies heavily by hearing office — some under a year, some closer to two. We can tell you the current average for your specific office when you call.

Can I work at all while I apply?

Some. Social Security calls earning above a monthly threshold "substantial gainful activity," and going over it can sink a claim outright. The figure changes yearly and there are exceptions such as trial work periods. Talk to us before you take shifts.

What's the difference between SSDI and SSI?

SSDI is an insurance benefit — you qualify through work credits you earned paying FICA taxes, and the amount depends on your earnings history. SSI is needs-based for people with very limited income and resources regardless of work history. Some people qualify for both. We work out which applies during the review.

Do I have to go to a hearing in person?

Often not. Many hearings are held by phone or video, and your advocate appears with you either way. If your case does go before a judge in person, you will not be walking in alone or unprepared.

Are you part of the Social Security Administration?

No. Disabilift is a private advocacy firm. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Social Security Administration or any government agency. You always have the right to file entirely on your own for free.

A hand about to tap the green call button on a phone

One tap. Free review.

Ready when you are

Pick up the phone before you file.

A free 5-minute call with an advocate. You'll know exactly where you stand.

Call (888) 721-8630

Rather not call? Request a callback

Applying for SSDI disability? Get it right the first time.