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    Do You Need Someone to Give You Another Chance?

    You tried to get Social Security Disability benefits—because you need a financial break after health problems knocked you out of work—but then you were denied. Is this hopeless?

    No. In fact, getting denied is extremely common. It’s practically a built-in part of the process. Over a recent 10-year period, about 80% of initial disability applications were denied.

    Now is the right time to talk to a Social Security Disability attorney

    You can appeal the denial, but appealing is much more legalistic than applying in the first place.

    You need to correct weaknesses in your medical evidence. You need someone to spot technical flaws in your application, and in Social Security’s decision. You need someone to prepare you for a hearing with a disability judge, and to stay by your side when your hearing comes.

    A disability lawyer does all of this—at no cost to you until you win benefits.

    The reality for most people is that they only get approved for disability benefits after they appeal.

    At Clarkson Pennington Law, your Alabama disability lawyer will walk you through your case, explain everything that’s happening in plain language, and fight for you to get the economic stability you need.

    Call us in Birmingham, Gadsden, Montgomery, Mobile, across North Alabama, the Black Belt, the Gulf Coast, Chattanooga and across Tennessee, and all over the Southeast.

    CALL US NOW! »

    How to Appeal a Disability Benefits Denial: The Multi-Step Process

    When you start a disability benefits appeal, you have several steps ahead of you:

    • Reconsideration: This is your first chance at reversing your denial. You ask Social Security to reconsider. They’ll have someone new take a fresh look at your case. Very few people get approved at this step—only about 2%—but it’s a required step to keep your disability claim alive.
    • Disability hearing: If you’re denied on reconsideration, you can ask for a hearing with a Social Security administrative law judge. This may be the most important step. You get to talk to a Social Security decision maker in person. The number of people approved goes up at this level.
    • Appeals Council: If the disability judge denies you, you can ask a central group at Social Security, called the Appeals Council, to review the judge’s decision.
    • Federal court: If the Social Security Appeals Council still denies you, you can ask a federal court judge, outside of Social Security, to review your case and send it back with orders for a different decision.

    It can take up to a year to get a decision on your disability benefits application. If you need to seek a reconsideration, it will take several more months to get an answer on that. 

    When you’re going to a hearing with an administrative law judge, the wait stretches out again. In Alabama as of 2023, it was taking about a year to reach a hearing, the same as the national average wait time.

    But after all the waiting, if you’re finally approved you’ll be awarded a lump sum of back benefits to compensate you for the time.

    And if you bring a representative with you to your hearing, someone like a disability attorney, one government study found your chances of approval are almost three times better.

    Your Alabama disability lawyer from Clarkson Pennington Law is here to help when you’ve been denied your disability benefits. We can even point you to community resources to hold you over while you wait on your case.

    We want to see you get another chance at a more secure life.

    Contact Us Today! »

    How Does Social Security Disability Work? Get Answers.

    Social Security Disability is a huge, complicated program that often doesn’t seem like it cares much about you and your needs. Can’t get answers to your questions? Your disability attorney from Clarkson Pennington Law is the one who truly cares and guides you. Talk to us.

    Common Questions About SSD »

    “The Clarkson Law Firm is fabulous. They helped me get my disability after being denied several times! The staff was great to work with and answered all my questions promptly. I would highly recommend if you are trying to get disability. 10/10 experience!”

    Regina Hamm in Google Reviews

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