A Successful SSDI Appeal
N/AOUTCOME: Favorable decision with 7 years of past due benefits
Ms. Smith (name changed) came to see me after being denied social security benefits after a hearing in front of an SSA Judge and after an unsuccessful appeal to the Appeals Council. Her previous repre ... sentative had referred her to a national law firm in Pennsylvania, but Ms. Smith was uncomfortable with that idea. She brought the case to me and asked me for my opinion. After reading the hearing judge's decision, I felt there were significant errors and that I could appeal the decision to the Federal District Court. Most important for Ms. Smith, her SSDI insurance had expired and so this was her only shot at being granted benefits. I appealed the decision and the Federal Judge ruled in her favor. Ms. Smith was granted another hearing in front of an SSA judge in 2018. This time, we corrected the errors and omissions from her previous representative and the ALJ granted her benefits from the bench. Ms. Smith was granted benefits back to 2011 and awarded a very large sum in past due benefits. This was a wonderful outcome for such a deserving client. She said to me, "Thank you, thank you, thank you. You became someone I trusted, a person that understood what I had been through."
