Was your Social Security Disability Insurance case denied? Don’t give up!
Just because you received a letter from Social Security saying you aren’t disabled doesn’t mean your case is over. Talk to us!
Do I Qualify?
SSDI Qualification Requirements
Hearing Information
Telephone Hearings (In-Home or Office)
F.A.Q.s
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)?
There are two main requirements to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
First, you must have worked long enough and paid enough into the Social Security System to be covered.
Second, you must be disabled. These requirements are confusing to most people. Our experienced attorneys can help you better understand whether you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
Tax Information
Everyone understands when you work most jobs the government takes taxes from your check. Most people understand that some of that money may go to Social Security and that if you work long enough you will be paid a monthly check for retirement. Most people do not understand how the disability aspect of Social Security works.
Work Duration
Not only do you need to have worked long enough and paid enough into the Social Security System to be covered, you also must have paid those taxes recently enough to be covered or insured. Generally speaking a person is covered for 5 years once they stop working a full-time job and paying into Social Security. So, if you stop working due to your medical condition you should not delay filing for Social Security Disability because the time you have is limited.
Disabled Information
Whether a person is disabled under Social Security’s rules is confusing to most people. Even most doctors don’t know what Social Security requires for a person to be disabled.
Doctor Information
Your doctor may have their own idea about what it means to be disabled but they typically don’t know Social Security’s definition. One of the important things our attorneys do is to help you understand what you need to prove your case.
Another important thing our attorneys can do is to help your doctor better understand what is needed to prove your case.
The Reality of the Disability Process
Don't let a denial define your future. Most successful claims require an appeal.
Initial Application
36%
Approval Rate
64% of applicants are denied
Reconsideration
16%
Approval Rate
84% of appeals are denied
ALJ Hearing
50%
Approval Rate
Your best chance for success starts here with legal representation.
Federal Court Review
65%
Remand Rate
65% of cases are sent back for a new hearing.
Denied at Reconsideration?
You have 60 days to request a hearing. With a 50% approval rate at the ALJ level, now is the time to secure counsel.
Data based on SSA Fiscal Year 2025 Workload reports issued January 8, 2026.
Hearing Information
Remote Telephone Hearings
Attend your court hearing by telephone and in the comfort of your own home. Telephone hearings save time, eliminate travel, and make it easier to participate in legal proceedings without the stress of going to court in person.
If you are denied disability on your application and again after appealing that denial you have the right to ask for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Most of those hearings are conducted by video.
Danville Office Telephone Hearings
We are recognized as a dedicated hearing site by the Social Security Administration. If you would like to hold your hearing by telephone in our office that option is available.
Video Hearings
If you are denied disability on your application and again after appealing that denial you have the right to ask for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Most of those hearings are conducted by video.
There are video hearing sites at the Danville, Champaign, Decatur and Kankakee Social Security offices. In Springfield the hearings are conducted in the basement of the Federal building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sometimes disability results from a combination of health problems. Whether a person is disabled can vary depending on age. Social Security doesn’t require that your disability be based on one specific medical problem. Any medical condition that would affect a person’s ability to work must be considered. Depending on what your age is, work experience, and other factors, you could be entitled to disability benefits.
It is not up to your doctor to determine whether you are disabled. It is unlikely your doctor knows what Social Security’s definition of disability is. It is up to Social Security to make their own decision regardless of what your doctor thinks. However, your doctor’s opinion regarding your work restrictions is important. That is why you should contact our office to ensure the proper medical evidence is gathered to prove your disability.
Federal law regulates attorneys’ fees in Social Security disability cases. So, most disability lawyers work on the same fee basis. The lawyer’s fee is 25% of the past due disability benefits you get, up to the statutory maximum. There is no fee if you lose.
It can take approximately 6 to 12 months to receive a decision on your initial application. If your application is denied, it can take an additional 6 to 12 months to get a decision on reconsideration. If you are denied on reconsideration it can take another 6 to 12 months to get a hearing before an administrative law judge. The judge will issue a written decision and that usually takes 30 to 60 days to get the decision in the mail.
No lawyer can guarantee you will win your case. No lawyer can bully the federal government or change the law to your benefit. However, an experienced lawyer, like the disability lawyers at Tuggle & Lichtenberger, can make the Social Security system work for you and can make the difference between winning and losing your case.
Most people who apply for Social Security disability benefits are, in fact, denied. You can be denied for many reasons, often through no fault of your own. For example, you may be denied benefits if your doctor doesn’t know what is important to your claim. So much of whether a person is approved for disability depends on the medical evidence. Someone you see may look fine, but most people’s medical conditions aren’t obvious just by looking at them.
The judges servicing our area are located either in Peoria or Orland Park (near Chicago).