Got Denied by Social Security Again? Don’t Give Up.
There is a resilience built into Chicago—from the laborers who built the Loop to the families raising children in the suburbs.
Here, people pride themselves on working hard and providing for their families. But what happens when a severe disability stops that work in its tracks?
It’s devastating to face a severe illness or injury, have to stop working, and then be turned away by Social Security when you apply for disability benefits.
If you’ve been denied not once, but multiple times, frustration and exhaustion don’t begin to describe what you’re going through.
Don’t give up.
Social Security Disability is designed to be tough. Benefits denials are a built-in part of the process. At least two-thirds of initial applications get denied in Illinois.
But more people get approved when they appeal their denials, especially when they make their case at a hearing with a disability judge.
At Nash Disability Law, we understand what you’re up against. Our skilled team of Chicago disability lawyers—one of the top disability law firms in Illinois—can take up your case with compassion and tenacity to get you the benefits you need to live a happier, more stable life.
We’ve helped more people in Chicagoland win benefits than any other law firm.
Why Does Social Security Keep Denying Your Disability Claim?
For most Chicagoans, the path to Social Security Disability benefits doesn’t end when you file your application.
There are multiple points of review—and each comes with the possibility of a denial. When that happens, you can appeal again.
Understanding when and why your claim was denied is the best way to successfully appeal that decision.
These are the first three points in the disability claims process where you can face a denial—and options to keep your case moving forward.
Initial Application Review: This is where most applicants in Chicago run into their first roadblock. In Illinois in 2024, more than 61% of Social Security Disability applicants were turned away. Social Security will send you a decision letter that might say why you were denied. A common reason is incomplete medical records.
Reconsideration: Once you have a denial decision letter, you can request Social Security to reconsider your case. Another adjudicator at the Disability Determination Services in Illinois will examine your claim. Denials are rarely overturned at this point. In Illinois, fewer than 15% of reconsiderations are approved.
An Administrative Hearing: After two denials, you can request a hearing in front of an administrative law judge. Your chances improve at this point: Half or more of claims can get approved after hearings in the Chicago area.
Throughout this process, it’s usually better to keep your claim alive. Don’t drop your claim and start over.
That only sends you back to the beginning, and it doesn’t necessarily improve your chances. You want to make it to a hearing, where you get the chance to tell your full story personally.
A skilled disability lawyer can help you.
At Nash Disability Law, we have experience with the doctors, the adjudicators, and the hearing judges in Chicagoland. We can help you to gather the right evidence and present your case in a new, compelling, and effective way.
It costs you nothing upfront to have us by your side.
You pay no attorney fees until you win your benefits.
What You Need to Overturn Multiple Denials in Chicago
Enduring multiple denials by Social Security is unfortunately common, but each step of the appeals process lets you build a stronger case.
Gaps in your medical history are the first place to focus when fighting a denial. During the reconsideration process, answering the questions raised in your denial letter requires a thorough review of what you provided in your initial application.
At the hearing level, you will have the chance to explain directly to the judge how your condition impacts your “residual functional capacity”—what Social Security determines you can and cannot do, mentally, physically, or both, because of your health problems.
It gets complicated. Getting a Chicago disability lawyer can ease the pressure on you to understand Social Security’s terminology, find the best supporting evidence to bolster your case, and present it in a way that greatly increases your chances of winning benefits.
At Nash Disability Law, navigating Social Security Disability for people is all we do.
And we are local. We treat you like a neighbor, not a number.
From our offices in Chicago and Palos Hills, we can guide you through multiple denials and put you on a path toward a better life.
