What is the disability application process?
• Initial Filing – Social Security staff will conduct the phone interview. Initial claims are denied 65% of the time, but there is much greater success on appeal. • Hearing – this is a formal, private, face-to-face meeting with an Administrative Law Judge. There are over 1,000 in the U.S. (60 in Philadelphia area) and it is supposed to be “non-adversarial”. At the hearing level, most claims are approved (60% nationally, 75% with a lawyer, and even greater success with a disability attorney). PA has faster turnaround than most states. The Judge can bring in a medical advisor to help them understand your illness – Hep C is seen a lot, Hep B is not. If your problem is not common, then you need to educate the judge about your condition or disease. A disability lawyer is helpful with this. The hearing can be 30 minutes to 3 hours, and is private. • Appeals Council – this is a second chance for your application. If the decision is unfavorable, you have 60 days to appeal to the Appeals Counci
