What an SSDI denial attorney does after Social Security rejects your claim

An SSDI denial attorney in Palmdale represents you during the reconsideration and appeal stages after Social Security denies your initial claim. They do not file the original process—they step in after the denial letter arrives. Their job is to gather medical evidence, identify why Social Security rejected you, build a stronger case, and present it to a judge if your case reaches a hearing.

Most SSDI denial attorneys work on contingency, meaning they take payment only if you win. The fee is set by federal law: 25 percent of your back pay (the money owed from when you first became disabled), capped at $7,200. You pay nothing upfront and nothing if you lose.

Palmdale is in Los Angeles County, which means your case will be handled by the Los Angeles SSDI hearing office if it reaches a judge. Attorneys who work in Palmdale are familiar with the judges there, the local medical providers Social Security trusts, and the specific reasons claims get denied in your area.

Key Takeaways

  • An SSDI denial attorney represents you during reconsideration and appeals after Social Security denies your claim, not during the initial filing.
  • Attorneys are paid only if you win, taking 25 percent of back pay up to $7,200 as their fee, with no upfront cost to you.
  • You can hire an attorney at any stage—reconsideration, Appeals Council review, or before a judge—but earlier is usually better because it gives more time to gather evidence.
  • The Los Angeles hearing office handles Palmdale cases, and local attorneys know which judges hear SSDI cases and what evidence they find most persuasive.
  • Not all attorneys are equally experienced; ask specifically about their SSDI denial cases, their win rate at hearings, and whether they have worked with judges in Los Angeles.

When to hire an attorney after a denial

You can hire an attorney at three points in the appeal process: during reconsideration (the first appeal), during Appeals Council review (the second appeal), or before a hearing before an administrative law judge. The sooner you hire, the more time your attorney has to build your case, but many people wait until they know they are heading to a hearing because that is when the stakes feel highest.

Reconsideration is the fastest stage to hire. Social Security has 60 days to make a decision, and your attorney can use that time to request your complete medical file, identify gaps in what Social Security saw, and submit new evidence. If Social Security denies reconsideration, your case moves to the Appeals Council, which can take four to six months. At that stage, an attorney can file a written brief explaining why the denial was wrong.

If the Appeals Council denies you or does not respond within 60 days, you can request a hearing before a judge. This is where most people hire an attorney if they have not already. A judge hearing is your best chance to win because the judge can ask you questions, hear from a medical informed on your behalf, and make a decision based on the full picture of your condition.

How to find an SSDI denial attorney in Palmdale

Start with the Social Security Administration's official list of representatives. Go to ssa.gov/representation and search by your zip code (93550 for central Palmdale). The list includes attorneys, non-attorney representatives, and organizations. All of them are vetted by Social Security and authorized to charge the standard contingency fee.

Ask for referrals from your doctor or local disability advocacy groups. Palmdale has several nonprofits that work with disabled people and often know which attorneys have strong track records locally. You can also contact the State Bar of California's lawyer referral service, though not all attorneys on that list specialize in SSDI.

Once you have a few names, call and ask about their experience with SSDI denials specifically. Ask how many cases they have handled, how many resulted in approval at a hearing, and whether they have worked with judges at the Los Angeles hearing office. An attorney who has handled 50 SSDI cases and won 70 percent at hearings is more valuable than one who handles general disability law but rarely sees SSDI.

What to expect when you hire an attorney

Your attorney will ask you to sign a fee agreement and an authorization form. The fee agreement confirms they will take 25 percent of back pay if you win, up to $7,200. The authorization form lets them request your medical records from doctors, hospitals, and clinics. Social Security will also see this form and know your attorney is representing you.

Next, your attorney will order your complete file from Social Security—all the medical evidence, work history, and notes from the examiner who denied you. They will review it to find what was missing or misread. They will ask you detailed questions about your condition, your work history, and how your disability affects daily tasks. This usually takes a few weeks.

Your attorney will then decide what new evidence to gather. This might mean requesting recent medical records from your doctor, arranging for a medical informed to review your case, or getting a statement from someone who knows how your condition affects you. If your case is heading to a hearing, your attorney may hire a vocational informed to testify that your condition prevents you from working.

Once all evidence is collected, your attorney will file it with Social Security or the Appeals Council, depending on what stage you are at. If you reach a hearing, your attorney will prepare you for questions the judge will ask and will represent you in the hearing room.

What makes an attorney effective in SSDI denial cases

The strongest SSDI attorneys know how to read medical records the way a judge does. They can spot when a doctor's notes support your claim even if the doctor did not use the word "disabled." They know which conditions Social Security approves most often and which ones require extra evidence. They understand that a single strong medical opinion from a specialist often outweighs a stack of routine office visit notes.

Experience with the specific judges in Los Angeles matters. Some judges approve SSDI cases at higher rates than others. Some judges trust certain medical providers more than others. An attorney who has appeared before these judges multiple times knows what evidence persuades them and how to present your case in a way that lands.

Good attorneys also manage expectations. They will tell you honestly whether your case is strong or weak, what evidence would help, and what the realistic chances are at each stage. They will not promise you will win, and they will not take a case they think is hopeless.

The cost and what happens if you win

You pay nothing unless Social Security approves your claim. If you win, your attorney takes 25 percent of your back pay, up to $7,200. Back pay is the money Social Security owes you from the date you became disabled until the date they approve your claim. If you were denied for two years and then approved, and your monthly benefit is $1,200, your back pay is roughly $28,800. Your attorney would receive $7,200 (the cap), and you would receive $21,600.

Social Security pays your attorney directly from your back pay before sending you your portion. You do not have to handle the payment yourself. Your attorney must file a fee petition with Social Security, and Social Security must approve it before the payment is made.

If you lose at every stage and never win approval, you owe your attorney nothing. This is why contingency fees are standard in SSDI cases—the attorney takes the risk that you will not win.

Non-attorney representatives as an alternative

You do not have to hire an attorney. Social Security also authorizes non-attorney representatives—usually people with training in disability law but no law degree. They charge the same contingency fee (25 percent of back pay, capped at $7,200) and can represent you at every stage of appeal, including hearings before a judge.

Non-attorney representatives are often less expensive to work with because they have lower overhead, and some have deep experience with SSDI cases. However, they cannot give you legal information the way an attorney can, and they may be less effective if your case involves complex medical or legal issues. If you are deciding between an attorney and a non-attorney representative, ask both about their experience with cases like yours and their hearing approval rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hire an attorney after I have already lost at reconsideration?

Yes. You can hire an attorney at any stage—reconsideration, Appeals Council review, or before a hearing. Hiring later means your attorney has less time to gather evidence, but it is still possible to win. If you are heading to a hearing, hiring an attorney at that point is common and often effective.

What if I cannot afford an attorney?

You do not pay upfront. Attorneys work on contingency, meaning they take payment only if you win. If you lose, you owe nothing. This is the standard arrangement for SSDI cases, so cost should not prevent you from hiring representation.

How long does it take to win an appeal with an attorney?

Reconsideration takes 60 days. Appeals Council review takes four to six months. A hearing before a judge typically takes three to six months from the time you request it. Your attorney cannot speed up Social Security's timeline, but they can make sure your case is as strong as possible when it reaches a decision-maker.

Do I need an attorney if my case is going to a hearing?

You are not required to have an attorney, but judges approve claims at much higher rates when an attorney represents you. An attorney knows how to present medical evidence, how to question witnesses, and how to respond to Social Security's arguments. Most people who reach a hearing hire an attorney at that point.

What if my attorney and I disagree about strategy?

You can fire your attorney and hire a different one at any time. Your new attorney will need Social Security's approval to represent you, but that is routine. If you are unhappy with your representation, do not wait—find someone else who you trust to handle your case.