Where to Find Disability Lawyers in Des Plaines
Des Plaines has several ways to locate a lawyer who handles Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cases. The most direct route is the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR) directory, which lists lawyers and non-lawyer representatives by location and lets you filter by whether they handle appeals, initial claims, or both. You can search by zip code on their website.
The Illinois State Bar Association also maintains a lawyer referral service. Call their main line or use their online search tool to find attorneys in Des Plaines who list disability law as a practice area. This service does not screen for experience level, so you will still need to ask questions about how many SSDI cases they have handled.
Local legal aid organizations in Cook County, such as the Legal Aid Chicago office, may represent you at no cost if your income falls below their threshold. They typically handle SSDI appeals rather than initial claims, and they have long waiting lists. Call ahead to ask whether they are currently taking new cases.
Key Takeaways
- NOSSCR's directory is the fastest way to find lawyers who specialize in SSDI and SSI work in Des Plaines, and it shows whether each representative handles your type of case.
- Disability lawyers in Illinois work on contingency, meaning they take payment only if you win, and their fee is capped by federal law at 25 percent of your back pay or $6,000, whichever is less.
- Legal aid organizations in Cook County represent low-income claimants for free but usually focus on appeals and have waiting lists that can stretch months.
- Before you hire anyone, ask how many SSDI cases they have handled in the past two years and whether they have experience with your type of disability.
- You can change representatives at any time, so if your current lawyer is not communicating or you disagree with their strategy, you can switch without penalty.
How Disability Lawyers Are Paid in Illinois
Disability lawyers in Illinois and nationwide work on contingency, which means they collect a fee only if you win your case. The fee is set by federal law, not by the lawyer. If the Social Security Administration (SSA) awards you back pay—the money owed from the date you became disabled to the date your benefits started—your lawyer can take up to 25 percent of that back pay or $6,000, whichever is smaller.
This payment structure means you do not pay anything upfront and you do not pay if you lose. However, you may still owe costs for medical records, informed reports, or filing fees. Ask your lawyer in writing whether they will advance these costs or whether you will owe them regardless of the outcome. Some lawyers cover costs themselves; others ask you to reimburse them if you win.
The SSA must approve the fee before your lawyer can collect it. Your lawyer submits a fee petition to the agency, and the SSA reviews whether the fee is reasonable for the work done. This approval step protects you from being overcharged.
What to Ask a Disability Lawyer Before You Hire Them
When you call a lawyer in Des Plaines, have a list of questions ready. Ask how many SSDI and SSI cases they have handled in the past two years—a lawyer who handles mostly other types of law may not know the current rules. Ask whether they have experience with your condition or type of disability, since some lawyers focus on mental health claims while others specialize in physical impairments or medical-vocational cases.
Ask what stage your case is at and whether they handle that stage. Some lawyers take cases only at the appeal level, after the SSA has already denied you once. Others handle initial claims. If you are already in an appeal, ask whether they have experience with the specific level—reconsideration, Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing, Appeals Council, or federal court.
Ask how they will communicate with you. Will they call you with updates, or do you have to call them? How often should you expect to hear from them? Ask what they expect from you—whether you need to gather medical records yourself or whether they will request them, and whether you will need to attend an in-person hearing or whether they can represent you by phone or video.
Ask about their fee arrangement in writing. Confirm the percentage or dollar amount, whether they will advance costs, and what happens if you lose. Get this in a signed fee agreement before you sign anything else.
The Difference Between Lawyers and Non-Lawyer Representatives
You do not have to hire a lawyer to represent you in an SSDI or SSI case. You can also hire a non-lawyer representative—someone who is not an attorney but is certified by the SSA to represent claimants. These representatives include accredited representatives from disability advocacy organizations and enrolled agents who specialize in Social Security work.
Non-lawyer representatives charge the same contingency fee as lawyers (25 percent of back pay or $6,000, whichever is less) and work under the same rules. The main difference is that they cannot represent you in federal court if your case goes that far. For most cases that settle at the ALJ hearing stage, this does not matter.
Non-lawyer representatives are often less expensive to work with because they have lower overhead, and some disability organizations employ them and charge reduced fees to members. If your case is straightforward and you do not expect it to reach federal court, a non-lawyer representative may be a good fit. The NOSSCR directory lists both lawyers and non-lawyer representatives, so you can compare options.
What Happens at Your First Meeting
At your first meeting with a disability lawyer in Des Plaines, bring copies of any documents you already have: your Social Security statement, the SSA's denial letter, any medical records you have collected, and a list of doctors and hospitals that have treated you. The lawyer will review these to understand your case and decide whether you have a reasonable chance of winning.
The lawyer will ask detailed questions about your medical history, your work history, and how your disability affects your ability to work. They will explain what the SSA looks for in a winning case and what evidence you will need to gather. They will tell you whether they think your case is strong, weak, or somewhere in between, and they will explain what the next steps are.
If you decide to hire them, you will sign a fee agreement and an authorization form that lets them request your medical records from your doctors and hospitals. You will not pay anything at this stage. The lawyer will then begin gathering evidence and preparing your case.
When to Hire a Lawyer Versus Handling Your Case Alone
You can represent yourself in an SSDI or SSI case, and some people do win without a lawyer. However, the SSA's rules are complex, and the approval rate for cases with representation is significantly higher than for cases without it. If you are denied at the initial stage and move to appeal, hiring a lawyer becomes more important because the appeal process requires you to present evidence and argue why the SSA's decision was wrong.
Consider hiring a lawyer if your case has been denied once, if your medical condition is complex or hard to document, if you have a work history that does not fit neatly into the SSA's rules, or if you are unsure how to gather the right evidence. If your case is straightforward—for example, you have recent, clear medical documentation of a severe condition—you may be able to handle an initial claim yourself.
If you start alone and are denied, you can hire a lawyer for the appeal at any time. You do not have to decide now. However, the sooner you hire representation, the sooner they can begin gathering evidence and building your case.
How to Check a Lawyer's Background and Credentials
Before you hire a disability lawyer in Des Plaines, verify that they are licensed to practice law in Illinois. The Illinois State Bar Association website has a lawyer search tool where you can enter the lawyer's name and confirm their license status and any disciplinary history. If a lawyer is not listed or shows a suspended license, do not hire them.
Check whether the lawyer is a member of NOSSCR or the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN). Membership in these organizations is not required, but it shows that the lawyer stays current with Social Security law and follows ethical standards. Ask whether they have been certified as a specialist in Social Security disability law by any organization.
Ask for references from past clients, though many lawyers will not provide them due to confidentiality. Ask whether you can speak to someone who has used their services. You can also check online reviews on Google, Avvo, or the Better Business Bureau, though remember that people who had bad experiences are more likely to leave reviews than people who were satisfied.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch lawyers if I am not happy with mine?
Yes. You can change representatives at any time by filing a new representative payee form with the SSA. You do not need permission from your current lawyer, and there is no penalty for switching. However, your new lawyer may not be able to collect a fee for work your old lawyer already did, so the transition can be complicated. Try to resolve problems with your current lawyer before you switch.
What if I cannot afford a lawyer's upfront costs for medical records?
Ask your lawyer whether they will advance costs. Many disability lawyers do, and they deduct the costs from your back pay if you win. If your lawyer will not advance costs and you cannot pay them yourself, contact Legal Aid Chicago to see whether they can help you cover costs or represent you directly.
How long does a disability case usually take with a lawyer?
An initial claim typically takes three to six months if approved quickly, or longer if denied and appealed. An appeal to an Administrative Law Judge hearing usually takes one to two years from the time you request the hearing. A lawyer cannot speed up the SSA's timeline, but they can make sure your case is prepared correctly so you do not have to wait longer due to missing evidence.
Do I need a lawyer who is based in Des Plaines, or can I hire someone from another city?
You can hire a lawyer from anywhere in Illinois or the United States. Social Security cases are handled by the SSA, not by local courts, so your lawyer does not need to be in Des Plaines. However, if your case reaches an ALJ hearing, you may need to attend in person at the SSA's Chicago office, so a local lawyer may be more convenient.
What should I do if my lawyer is not communicating with me?
Send your lawyer a written email or letter asking for an update on your case and a timeline for the next steps. Keep a copy. If they do not respond within two weeks, call their office and ask to speak to the lawyer or their case manager. If communication does not improve, you can file a complaint with the Illinois State Bar Association or switch to a new representative.