SSDI Appeal in Memphis: 5 Things You Can Expect
If you’ve been denied Social Security Disability, you probably have a lot of questions about the next steps. Here are five things you can expect when you file an SSDI appeal in Memphis.
One: The system makes appeals extremely common.
The SSA denies the majority of SSDI applications on the first try. If you get denied your SSDI the first time around, you join many thousands of others facing the same fate. That means there’s a whole system in place to help you appeal, including specific paperwork, procedures, and even special judges to help the many people like yourself who have a legitimate disability and need to appeal the decision.
Two: You have a very limited time to appeal.
Once you receive your denial, you only have 60 days to file an appeal. In that appeal, you need to show the SSA how and why they should reconsider your case. An attorney can help you make a strong argument for why you deserve to move forward. From there, the SSA will schedule an appeal hearing.
Three: The hearing will look different from a normal court trial.
SSDI appeal hearings look and feel very different from the kinds of hearings you see on TV. For one thing, there’s no adversary or other lawyer working against you. Instead, your lawyer will present your case to the administrative law judge, and that judge will ask you some questions. For example, they’ll want to know how your injury impacts your daily life. It can feel more like a conversation than you might expect.
Hearings typically take place at a Social Security building (although after COVID and for some specific physical needs, they do allow certain exceptions for virtual hearings). In Memphis, these hearings take place at the Social Security headquarters, located on Union Ave. near Cleveland.
Four: You can present expert witnesses (and examples).
Your attorney can help you bolster your case with backup, including doctors, nurses, employers, and experts related to your specific medical issues.
In an appeal, you have to answer for any holes in your original application and make a strong argument for your need. Fortunately, you do have ample opportunity to do that if you have good legal help. Which leads to the final point:
Five: You’ll need an attorney.
As you can probably tell, the SSDI appeal process can be complicated. When you’re going before a judge and presenting evidence, you should really have legal help. Otherwise you may risk not getting the benefits you need.
Fortunately, getting an attorney for your SSDI appeal doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult. Our Memphis firm works with you every step of the way, and we only get paid if you do. What’s more, our fees are limited to a small fraction of your back-payments—everything moving forward stays with you.
If you’re facing an SSDI appeal in Memphis, you’ve come to the right place. Our attorneys have a reputation for thorough, compassionate service and for getting results. To help you in the process, we’ve written a free report called Your Guide to the SSDI Appeals Process.
Don’t wait to get started. Remember, you only have 60 days to appeal. Just give me a call today for a free consultation. Call 901-327-2100 or fill out the form below.