The Center for Disability and Elder Law is a nonprofit law firm that handles Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cases, along with Medicare, Medicaid, and benefits planning for disabled and older adults

The Center operates in multiple states and focuses on people who cannot afford private disability lawyers. They take cases on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront and they collect a fee only if you win — capped by federal law at 25 percent of your back pay, up to $7,200. This structure makes them accessible to people living on very little income while waiting for a decision.

Unlike a general legal aid office, the Center specializes in disability and elder law. That means the lawyers who handle your case spend most of their time on SSDI denials, SSI resource limits, work incentives, and the intersection between benefits and healthcare coverage. They are not generalists rotating between housing, family law, and benefits work.

Key Takeaways

  • The Center for Disability and Elder Law takes SSDI and SSI cases on contingency, so you pay nothing unless you win.
  • They operate in multiple states but not all; you must check their website to see if they serve your location.
  • They handle not only appeals but also benefits planning, work incentives, and the interaction between disability benefits and Medicare or Medicaid.
  • If you are denied SSDI or SSI, contacting them early — before or shortly after your denial — gives them time to develop your case properly.

What Cases the Center Takes

The Center represents people who have been denied SSDI or SSI by the Social Security Administration. This includes initial denials, denials at reconsideration, and denials after a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). They also represent people whose benefits have been terminated or reduced, and those fighting overpayment decisions.

Beyond appeals, they do benefits planning for people who are working or considering work while on SSDI or SSI. This includes advising on work incentives like the Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE), Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS), and the Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) deduction. They also help people understand how earnings affect their benefits month by month, and what happens to Medicare or Medicaid if they return to work.

They represent older adults in SSI cases, particularly those fighting resource limits or trying to protect assets while remaining on benefits. They also handle cases involving Medicaid planning for disabled and elderly clients — for example, helping someone understand how to structure assets to preserve Medicaid coverage while planning for long-term care.

How to learn about They Serve Your State

The Center for Disability and Elder Law does not operate nationwide. They have offices in some states and not others, and coverage can be limited to certain counties or regions within a state. The only reliable way to know if they serve you is to visit their website or call their main office directly.

When you contact them, have your location ready and be prepared to describe your case briefly — whether you have been denied SSDI or SSI, whether you have had a hearing, and roughly when your denial occurred. If they do not serve your area, ask if they can refer you to another disability-focused legal aid office or nonprofit law firm nearby.

What to Expect When You Contact Them

If you call or submit an intake form, expect a conversation about your medical condition, your work history, and the reason Social Security gave for denying you. They will ask for copies of your denial letter and any medical records you have. This initial conversation is not a commitment on either side — it is how they decide whether your case is one they can take.

If they agree to represent you, they will handle communication with Social Security on your behalf. You will not have to call the Social Security Administration or respond to letters yourself; the Center's lawyers will do that. They will also request your medical records from your doctors and hospitals, and may order a medical informed's opinion if your case needs one.

Throughout the process, you remain the client. You decide whether to accept a settlement offer or go to a hearing. The Center advises you, but the choice is yours. If your case goes to a hearing before an ALJ, a Center lawyer will represent you in the hearing room.

Contingency Fee Structure and What It Means

Because the Center works on contingency, you pay nothing out of pocket while your case is pending. If you lose, you owe nothing. If you win and receive back pay (the money Social Security owes you from the date you became disabled), the Center takes 25 percent of that back pay as their fee, capped at $7,200 by federal law.

This means if you win $20,000 in back pay, the Center receives $5,000 (25 percent) and you receive $15,000. If you win $40,000 in back pay, the Center receives $7,200 (the cap) and you receive $32,800. The cap protects you from paying more than a fixed amount no matter how much back pay you receive.

You will also owe costs — things like medical records fees, informed witness fees, or hearing transcripts. The Center usually advances these costs and deducts them from your back pay if you win. Ask them upfront what costs they expect and how they will handle them.

When to Contact Them and Why Timing Matters

The best time to contact the Center is as soon as you receive a denial letter from Social Security. You have 60 days from the date on that letter to request reconsideration or appeal. If you wait until day 59, the Center has almost no time to gather medical evidence or develop your case before the important date passes.

If you have already missed the 60-day important date, you may still be able to appeal, but the process becomes more complicated. You can request a "new initial information" if your condition has worsened, or you can ask Social Security to reopen your case if you have new medical evidence. The Center can advise you on whether either of these routes is possible in your situation.

If you are currently in the appeals process — waiting for a reconsideration decision or scheduled for a hearing — contacting the Center now is still worthwhile. They can take over your case and prepare you for the hearing or request a hearing if one has not been scheduled yet.

How the Center Differs From Other Legal Aid

General legal aid offices handle many types of cases — housing, family law, consumer debt, immigration. A lawyer there might spend one day on a housing eviction and the next on a benefits appeal. The Center for Disability and Elder Law does only disability and elder law, which means their lawyers have deep knowledge of SSDI rules, SSI resource limits, work incentives, and how benefits interact with Medicare and Medicaid.

They also differ from some legal aid offices in that they take cases on contingency. Many legal aid offices require you to meet income limits and may charge a small fee. The Center's contingency model means you pay only if you win, which removes the barrier of upfront cost even for people with very limited income.

If you cannot reach the Center or they do not serve your area, ask your local legal aid office for a referral to a disability-focused lawyer or nonprofit. Some areas have other organizations that specialize in disability law and work on contingency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use the Center if I contact them?

No. An initial conversation is not a binding agreement. If they offer to represent you and you decide you want to work with someone else, you can decline. Similarly, if you decide representation is not right for you, you can withdraw at any time, though you may owe them for costs they have already paid.

What if I already have a lawyer and want to switch to the Center?

You can switch lawyers, but you will owe your current lawyer their fee from any back pay you receive. The Center can advise you on whether switching makes sense in your situation and what the cost will be. Some cases benefit from a fresh set of eyes, especially if your current representation has stalled.

Will the Center help me understand my benefits if I go back to work?

Yes. Beyond appeals, they do benefits planning and advise on work incentives. If you are thinking about returning to work while on SSDI or SSI, they can explain how your earnings will affect your benefits, what deductions you may be may have access to to, and how to report your work to Social Security correctly.

How long does a case usually take?

Timeline varies widely. A reconsideration decision can take three to six months. A hearing before an ALJ typically takes six months to two years from the time you request it, depending on your local hearing office's backlog. The Center can give you a better estimate once they review your specific case.

What happens if Social Security approves my claim while the Center is representing me?

If you are approved, the Center's contingency fee applies to any back pay you receive. You will owe them 25 percent of back pay (up to $7,200) plus any costs they advanced. The approval is good news for you — you will receive ongoing monthly benefits plus the lump sum of back pay, minus the fee and costs.