Social Security Disability
When a disability prevents you from working, Social Security disability benefits may be one of the most important resources available to you. The application and appeals process can be long, confusing, and discouraging — especially if you have already been denied. I represent Arkansas claimants at every stage of the process, from initial application through administrative hearings.
What Is Social Security Disability
The Social Security Administration administers two main disability programs. Social Security Disability Insurance — known as SSDI — is available to people who have worked and paid into the Social Security system long enough to be insured. Supplemental Security Income — SSI — is a needs-based program available to people with limited income and resources, regardless of their work history.
Both programs use the same basic definition of disability: you must have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that has lasted, or is expected to last, at least twelve months or result in death, and that prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activity. The SSA evaluates claims through a five-step sequential evaluation process that looks at your work history, the severity of your impairments, whether your condition meets or equals a listed impairment, your ability to perform past work, and your ability to perform any work given your age, education, and experience.
Most disability claims are denied at the initial level — and many are denied again on reconsideration. A denial is not the end of the road. The hearing before an Administrative Law Judge is where most claims are ultimately won, and having representation at that stage makes a significant difference.
Initial Applications
The process starts with an application — either online through the SSA's website or at your local Social Security office. The application asks for detailed information about your medical conditions, work history, education, and daily activities. How you describe your limitations matters. Vague or incomplete answers are one of the most common reasons claims are denied at this stage.
I help clients understand what the SSA is actually looking for and how to present their conditions in a way that accurately reflects the full impact of their disability on their ability to work. Getting the initial application right — and making sure all relevant medical records are submitted — gives your claim the best possible foundation before any review takes place.
Appeals and Reconsideration
If your initial claim is denied, you have 60 days to file an appeal. The first level of appeal in Arkansas is reconsideration — a review of your file by a different examiner at the Disability Determination Services office. Statistically, most reconsideration reviews also result in denial. That does not mean you should give up. It means the next step — the hearing — is where the real opportunity lies.
At the reconsideration stage, I review the denial notice, identify what the SSA found lacking, and work with you to supplement the record with additional medical evidence before the next review. If reconsideration is denied, I help you request a hearing as quickly as possible to avoid losing your place in line.
Administrative Law Judge Hearings
A hearing before an Administrative Law Judge is the most important stage of the disability process for most claimants. It is your opportunity to present your case in person — to explain your limitations in your own words, respond to the judge's questions, and challenge the testimony of any vocational or medical experts the SSA calls.
I prepare clients thoroughly for hearings — reviewing your medical records in detail, identifying the strongest aspects of your claim, and working through what to expect in the hearing room. I handle the legal arguments, cross-examine expert witnesses, and make sure the judge has the complete picture of how your conditions affect your ability to work on a consistent, full-time basis.
Approval rates at the hearing level are substantially higher than at the initial or reconsideration stages — particularly for claimants who are represented. If you have been denied once or twice, a hearing is not a long shot. It is the stage where most cases are decided.
Appeals Council and Federal Court
If an Administrative Law Judge denies your claim, you have the right to appeal to the Social Security Appeals Council, and if necessary, to federal district court. These appeals are less common but sometimes necessary — particularly when a judge failed to follow proper legal standards, ignored significant medical evidence, or applied the wrong legal framework to your case.
I evaluate ALJ decisions for legal error and advise clients on whether an Appeals Council review or federal court appeal is a realistic path forward given the specific facts of their case.
Fees — No Upfront Cost
Social Security disability representation works differently from most legal matters. I do not charge any upfront fee for disability cases. My fee is contingent — meaning I am only paid if you win, and my fee comes out of your back pay award. The SSA regulates attorney fees in disability cases: the fee is capped at 25% of your back pay, with a maximum set by federal regulation.
If you do not win, you owe me nothing. This means there is no financial risk in seeking representation, and no reason to navigate the process alone when having an attorney significantly improves your chances at the hearing stage.
Who I Represent
I represent Arkansas claimants at all stages of the Social Security disability process — including people who have already been denied and are considering an appeal, people who are preparing an initial application and want to get it right the first time, and people who have a hearing date coming up and need representation quickly.
If you are not sure whether your condition qualifies, or whether it is worth pursuing a claim given your situation, I am glad to talk it through. A free consultation costs you nothing and gives you a clearer picture of where you stand.
Talk to me about your disability claim.
I represent Arkansas claimants at every stage — including people who have already been denied. Free consultations, no upfront fees.
Schedule a free consultation