Auto Accident Recovery
$3,700,000
Settlement for an auto accident causing death.
Michigan Social Security Disability Lawyers
Over $600 million recovered
1000+ reviews
Pay Nothing Unless We Win
Free case review
Over $600 million recovered
Jay Trucks & Associates has a proven track record fighting for our clients. We're committed to securing your recovery and getting you back on your feet.
Our SSDI Lawyers
Our Michigan Social Security Disability attorneys know the SSA process inside and out — from initial applications to ALJ hearings and federal court appeals — and we fight to secure the benefits our clients have earned.
Hear from our clients
Types of social security claims
Social Security disability isn't a single program — it's a set of benefit categories with different rules. Knowing which one fits your situation is the first step to getting paid.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
For workers who have paid into Social Security through payroll taxes long enough to be insured and can no longer work due to a qualifying medical condition expected to last at least 12 months.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
A needs-based program for disabled adults and children with limited income and resources — no work history required. Eligibility hinges on financial limits as well as medical proof of disability.
Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits
For adults whose disability began before age 22 and who can collect on a parent's Social Security record once that parent retires, becomes disabled, or passes away.
Disabled Widow or Widower benefits
For surviving spouses age 50 or older whose disability began within a defined window around the spouse's death. Provides benefits on the deceased worker's record.
Compassionate Allowance claims
A fast-track designation for severe conditions — certain cancers, ALS, and rare diseases — that clearly meet SSA's medical criteria, allowing benefits to be approved in weeks rather than months.
Concurrent SSDI and SSI claims
Some claimants qualify for both programs at the same time when SSDI benefits are low enough to also meet SSI's income limits. We make sure you receive every benefit you're entitled to.
3 ingredients of a Social Security disability claim
Before the SSA approves a single dollar of benefits, your claim has to clear three hurdles. Here's how Social Security disability claims are built.
- 1
A qualifying medical condition
You have a severe physical or mental impairment — documented by your treating providers — that prevents substantial work and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
- 2
Sufficient work credits (or financial need)
For SSDI, you've earned enough recent work credits through payroll taxes to be insured. For SSI, your income and resources fall under SSA's strict limits.
- 3
Inability to do substantial work
You can't perform your past work and — given your age, education, and skills — can't reasonably adjust to other work. The SSA's five-step sequential evaluation decides this for every claim.
Pay nothing unless we win your case
We handle every Michigan SSDI case on contingency. No retainer. No hourly fees. No risk to you. SSA-approved attorney fees are paid only out of past-due benefits if we win — if we don't get you approved, you don't owe us a dime.
- Free, no-obligation case review
- We come to you anywhere in Michigan
- Available 24/7 — we answer the phone
- Decades helping Michigan claimants
Talk to an attorney now
Call our Michigan SSDI team
(989) 601-2554 Get my free case reviewAvailable 24/7 · Confidential · No obligation
Common reasons for a claim denial
Roughly two out of three initial SSDI applications are denied. Most denials come down to a handful of recurring problems — and most of them are fixable on appeal.
Insufficient medical evidence
The single most common cause of denial. SSA needs detailed treatment notes, objective test results, and provider opinions — not just a diagnosis. Gaps in records sink claims.
Earning above substantial gainful activity
If you're working and earning over SSA's monthly substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit, your claim is denied at step one — regardless of how disabling your condition is.
Failing to follow prescribed treatment
If your doctor's prescribed treatment could restore your ability to work and you don't follow it without a valid reason, SSA can use that to deny benefits.
Short-duration impairment
Your condition must be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. Injuries and illnesses with shorter recovery timelines won't qualify, even if currently severe.
Lack of cooperation with SSA
Missing a consultative exam, ignoring a request for forms, or failing to update contact information can all trigger an automatic denial — even when the underlying claim is strong.
Insufficient work credits
SSDI requires recent work history covered by Social Security taxes. If you haven't worked enough or recently enough, you're not insured for SSDI — though SSI may still be an option.
Drug or alcohol use as a material factor
If SSA decides your disability would not exist absent substance use, they will deny the claim. We help document conditions that remain disabling regardless.
Past-work mismatch
If SSA decides you can still perform your past relevant work — even part-time — your claim is denied at step four. Detailed evidence about job demands matters.
Filing or procedural errors
Missed appeal deadlines, incomplete forms, or filings under the wrong program can all torpedo an otherwise winnable claim. An attorney keeps the file clean.
Common terms while navigating SSDI benefits
Social Security letters and forms are full of acronyms. Here are the terms you'll see most often as your claim moves through the system.
SSDI
Social Security Disability Insurance. Pays monthly benefits to insured workers who can no longer work due to a long-term disability.
SSI
Supplemental Security Income. A needs-based program for disabled adults and children with limited income and resources.
SGA
Substantial Gainful Activity. The monthly earnings threshold above which SSA generally finds you are not disabled. The amount changes each year.
Work credits
What you earn by paying Social Security taxes on your wages. Most adults need 40 credits — 20 of them in the last 10 years — to qualify for SSDI.
Date last insured (DLI)
The last date you remain insured for SSDI based on your work history. To win SSDI, you must prove your disability began on or before this date.
Onset date
The date your disability began. SSA may accept your alleged onset date or set its own. The onset date determines how far back-pay reaches.
RFC (Residual Functional Capacity)
SSA's assessment of what work-related activities you can still perform despite your impairments. RFC drives whether SSA finds you can do past or other work.
Reconsideration
The first level of appeal after an initial denial. A different SSA examiner reviews your file. Most reconsiderations are denied — the real fight is at the hearing.
ALJ hearing
A hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. This is where prepared claimants — with strong medical evidence and credible testimony — win the majority of cases.
Appeals Council
The next level of review after an unfavorable ALJ decision. The Council can grant review, deny review, or remand the case for a new hearing.
Compassionate Allowance
An SSA designation that fast-tracks approval for severe conditions like ALS, certain cancers, and rare diseases that obviously meet disability criteria.
Listing of Impairments
SSA's 'Blue Book' of medical conditions that, if met or equaled, automatically qualify you as disabled. Most claims do not meet a listing and instead win on RFC.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions Michigan SSDI claimants ask us most often.
How long does the SSDI process take in Michigan?
Initial decisions typically take 3 to 6 months. Reconsideration adds another 3 to 6 months. If you have to go to an ALJ hearing — and most claimants do — the wait is often 12 to 18 months. We push every deadline and prepare evidence early to keep your case moving.
Can I work while applying for SSDI?
You can work, but only below the substantial gainful activity (SGA) earnings limit set by SSA each year. Earning above the limit is the fastest way to get a claim denied. We help you understand what counts and what doesn't.
How much does an SSDI lawyer cost?
Nothing up front. SSA strictly regulates attorney fees: we are paid only if you win, and only out of past-due benefits — capped by federal law. If we don't win your case, you owe no attorney fee.
What if my SSDI application has already been denied?
Don't give up. Most claims are denied at the initial stage and won at the ALJ hearing. There are strict deadlines — usually 60 days — to appeal each decision, so call us as soon as you receive a denial letter.
What conditions qualify for SSDI?
There is no fixed list of qualifying diagnoses. SSA evaluates how your condition limits your ability to work. Severe musculoskeletal disorders, mental health conditions, neurological diseases, cancers, autoimmune disorders, and chronic cardiovascular and respiratory conditions are all commonly approved when properly documented.
Will hiring a lawyer increase my chances of approval?
Statistics consistently show represented claimants are approved at significantly higher rates than unrepresented ones — especially at the ALJ hearing level. We know how to develop the medical record, prepare you to testify, and cross-examine SSA's vocational and medical experts.
Will SSDI affect my other benefits?
SSDI can interact with workers' compensation, long-term disability insurance, and other public benefits in complex ways. Some are reduced; some are unaffected. We coordinate the moving pieces so you keep as much income as possible.
What happens at an ALJ hearing?
You testify before an Administrative Law Judge about your conditions and how they affect daily life and work. A vocational expert and sometimes a medical expert also testify. We prepare you, develop the record in advance, and question the experts so the judge has what they need to approve your claim.
Offices across Michigan
We meet clients at offices throughout the state. Find the location nearest you.
Free case review
Need to speak to someone right away? Call (989) 601-2554