Richard B Grabow

I can't recommend Attorney Richard Grabow highly enough! I finally have federal disability support (SSDI) because I contracted with him. I would not have been able to successfully navigate the disability appeals process without him and his assistant Melissa. It was very difficult to find someone to t...ake my case, as I am considered very young for disability and because (as Attorney Grabow explained) the system is not really set up to assess people with my many complex, chronic conditions. After a lot of hard work and an extremely long time of searching, I found two others willing to take my case, but after in-person consults, it was no contest that I wanted to go with Grabow. He was obviously very busy so he had to be very direct and to the point about everything, but I appreciate the efficiency and candor. He looked at my work history and medical summary, and he laid out the difficulties of my application but the reasons why I could (and obviously should) qualify. He also explained more of an inside perspective on how the system works, expected wait times, etc. The other folks I considered hiring did not seem nearly as competent nor were they as thorough or candid about things. Basically, how the office functions is that most communications are with his assistant Melissa and Richard directly communicates when needed. Melissa is friendly, helpful, and has more time for answering questions. Richard is understandably more rushed and some might perceive him as a bit gruff, but again, the efficiency, directness and high level of competence is what I prefer. (And, what works!) For anyone starting the disability process, some other helpful info: -Grabow operates on a common disability attorney method where you can contract with him and he does not receive payment unless you win your case. If you win, he is automatically paid a % from your backpay, with a cap. This was a godsend for me as, of course, I was destitute by the time I found him. -Contracting with a lawyer is extremely important and helpful, but you still have to stay on top of everything that you can yourself. For example, I always take notes, and Grabow mentioned a certain type of paperwork early in the process. I brought it up with him further into the process ("I have X in my notes. Should we be doing that soon?") and his take seemed to be, "We don't need that right now. Let's not do work until we need to do work and have everything as current as possible." Luckily, I pressed him on it to give it to me the forms to get to my doctor...and then, surprisingly, my case processing got pushed up EARLIER than expected, we did need that paperwork, and we had it in the nick of time. All this is to say, I don't think I would have been approved without his work on my case, but you still need to be engaged in the process. In sum, I am extremely glad and grateful that I used Richard and Melissa!! I was disabled for 10 years without support, and I am finally in the next chapter of my life because of their help. I can't thank them enough!!!

I apply for social security with multiple medical problems but lack of knowledge. Was denied. Appealed and denied again. I sat wit attorney grabow stated my case gave him my paperwork. He is so well Knowledged about social security he was right away able to point out why i not only QUALIFIED and met... the listing but should have been approved. It was a long and lengthy process which you cant avoid, (it just the way the system works). Day of my hearing he spoke and prepared me for what would be said and asked of me and it went just like he said. I should have been approved at the first hearing with him. He felt great about it went and said you will be approved. The judge seemed that way also, but the judge decided added a vocational examiners letter to see if i was able to work with my condition. He appealed and at the next hearing there was a medical examiner who did nothing but work for ss and say if he belives you qualify or not. This “doctor” claimed i did not meet the listing at all and there was no evidence. He drilled this doctor with all the facts and made him eat his own words. It was amazing. It was like on tv and you have the lawyer who nails the bad guy for life! He had me with a big grin after the hearing and said to me, “at the end of the hearing that judge said you meet and qualified”. Sure enought 2 weeks later i was sent an approved letter with a fully favorable decision from social security. This is a long and hard road and i could not have done it without him. As long as you be patient he will do anything and everything and he knows alot! I was so skeptical at winning and here i am 2 years later about to recive my first check. Hire him! Hands down the best!