Filing for Social Security Disability benefits involves more than completing a form — it requires gathering medical evidence, documenting your work history, and presenting your limitations in a way that meets the SSA’s eligibility standards. Here’s an overview of the process and what to expect at each stage. The first step is determining which program or programs you may qualify for.

SSDI requires a work history and sufficient Social Security credits. SSI is needs-based and available regardless of work history. Some applicants qualify for both. Understanding which program applies to your situation guides the rest of the process. Once you know which program to apply for, gather your documentation before starting the application. For SSDI, this includes your Social Security number, birth certificate, complete work history, and contact information for all treating medical providers.

For SSI, add documentation of your income and assets. Submit your application online at ssa.gov, by phone, or in person at a local Social Security office. Your application will be forwarded to Michigan’s Disability Determination Services for an initial review, which typically takes three to six months. If your application is denied — which happens to most initial filers — you have 60 days to file an appeal.

The first appeal is called reconsideration, in which a different SSA examiner reviews your case. If reconsideration is also denied, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. The hearing stage is where many previously denied claims are ultimately approved. At every stage, responding promptly to SSA requests and keeping your medical records current helps keep your claim on track.

Our team at Grech Law Firm Attorney & Counselor guides Michigan residents through every step of the filing process. Contact us for a free consultation.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program designed to provide financial support to workers who become unable to work due to a serious medical condition. For Michigan residents facing a disabling illness or injury, understanding the basics of how the program works is the starting point for pursuing the benefits available to you. At its core, SSDI provides monthly payments to workers who have paid into the Social Security system through payroll taxes and who can no longer engage in substantial gainful activity due to a qualifying disability.

The disability must be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. Eligibility has two components. The medical component requires evidence that your condition meets the SSA’s definition of disability — typically documented through medical records, treatment history, and a functional assessment. The technical component requires that you have earned enough work credits through employment to be insured for SSDI.

The amount you receive depends on your earnings history. The SSA calculates your average lifetime earnings and applies a formula to determine your monthly benefit. In 2025, the average SSDI payment was approximately $1,580 per month, though individual amounts vary widely based on work history. After receiving SSDI for 24 months, recipients become eligible for Medicare regardless of their age.

This is a significant benefit for those who become disabled before reaching the age of Medicare eligibility. Family members may also receive benefits based on your SSDI record. A spouse, dependent children, or adult disabled children may qualify for derivative benefits, subject to a family maximum.

Our team at Grech Law Firm Attorney & Counselor has been helping Michigan residents access SSDI benefits for over 25 years. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your situation.

Many people assume the Social Security Disability process is straightforward — you fill out an application, submit your medical records, and wait for a decision. In reality, the process is complex, and applicants who navigate it without guidance are denied at significantly higher rates than those with experienced representation. The SSA’s eligibility criteria involve technical medical and vocational standards that aren’t self-explanatory.

Knowing how your condition maps to the SSA’s evaluation framework, what functional limitations matter most for your specific situation, and how to present your work history in a way that supports your claim requires knowledge of how the system works. At the initial application stage, an attorney helps ensure your application is complete, your medical evidence is organized, and your descriptions of your limitations are specific and aligned with what SSA reviewers are looking for.

Small details — like how you describe a job’s physical demands or the frequency of your worst symptom days — can affect how your claim is evaluated. At the appeals and hearing stages, the value of representation increases further. Preparing for a disability hearing involves reviewing medical records for gaps, coordinating with treating physicians, preparing for the judge’s questions, and understanding how to respond to vocational expert testimony.

Applicants who appear at hearings with legal representation are approved at substantially higher rates than those who appear alone. SSDI and SSI attorneys work on contingency, meaning there’s no upfront cost and no fee unless benefits are awarded. Federal law caps attorney fees in disability cases, so the cost is regulated and predictable.

Our team at Grech Law Firm Attorney & Counselor has helped Michigan disability claimants for over 25 years. Contact us for a free consultation — there’s no cost to speak with us.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI/SSD) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are two distinct programs that both provide benefits to people with disabilities — but they work very differently. Understanding those differences is the first step in knowing which program applies to your situation, and whether you might qualify for both. SSDI is an insurance-based program funded by Social Security payroll taxes.

Eligibility requires that you have worked and paid into the Social Security system for a sufficient number of years. Your benefit amount is based on your earnings history — the more you earned before your disability, the higher your potential benefit. SSDI recipients qualify for Medicare after a 24-month waiting period. SSI is a needs-based program funded by federal general revenues, not the Social Security trust fund.

It does not require a work history. Instead, eligibility depends on financial need — your income and assets must fall below program limits. SSI benefit amounts are set by federal law and are the same for all recipients, regardless of work history. SSI recipients in most states are immediately eligible for Medicaid. Both programs use the same definition of disability: a medically determinable physical or mental condition that prevents substantial gainful activity and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.

The medical standards are identical. Some people qualify for both programs simultaneously — called concurrent benefits. This typically occurs when someone has enough work credits for a modest SSDI payment, but that payment is low enough that they still meet SSI’s financial criteria.

Our team at Grech Law Firm Attorney & Counselor helps Michigan residents determine which programs they qualify for and assists with the application process. Contact us for a free consultation.

Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income involves multiple steps and requires careful preparation. Knowing what to expect and what information you’ll need before you start can reduce errors and help your application move through the process more efficiently. You can apply for SSDI online at ssa.gov, by calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213, or by visiting your local Social Security office in person.

SSI applications generally need to be completed in person or by phone because of the financial documentation requirements. For both programs, it’s helpful to gather your materials before you begin. For SSDI, you’ll need your Social Security number, birth certificate, information about your work history for the past 15 years, military discharge papers if applicable, and medical records including the names and contact information of all treating providers.

The SSA will contact your medical providers to request records, but having this information organized in advance speeds the process. For SSI, you’ll also need documentation of your income and resources — bank statements, proof of any other benefits you receive, and information about property you own. Once your application is submitted, it goes to Michigan’s Disability Determination Services for review.

You may be contacted for additional information or asked to attend a consultative examination. Responding promptly to any requests prevents unnecessary delays. Initial decisions typically take three to six months. If your application is denied, you have 60 days from the date of the denial notice to file an appeal. Missing this deadline can result in having to start over from the beginning.

Our team at Grech Law Firm Attorney & Counselor helps Michigan residents prepare and submit complete, well-documented applications for both SSDI and SSI. Contact us for a free consultation.

Children with disabilities may qualify for Supplemental Security Income, providing monthly financial assistance to families who need support caring for a child with a serious medical condition. Understanding how the program works — and what it takes to qualify — helps families pursue the benefits available to them. To qualify for SSI, a child under 18 must have a physical or mental condition that causes marked and severe functional limitations, and the condition must be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.

The SSA evaluates how the child’s condition limits their functioning compared to other children of the same age — not against an adult standard of employability. Financial eligibility is also required. Because children are generally considered part of their parents’ household, the SSA considers the income and resources of parents living with the child when determining eligibility.

This process is called deeming, and it means a family’s financial situation affects whether a child qualifies for SSI even if the child has no income of their own. Documenting a child’s disability requires thorough medical records. School records, including IEP evaluations and reports from teachers, can also serve as important evidence of functional limitations in an educational and social setting.

Statements from parents, caregivers, and therapists describing how the child’s condition affects daily functioning help paint a complete picture. When a child who receives SSI reaches age 18, their case is redetermined under the adult disability standard. This is a significant transition that requires preparation — the medical and functional criteria change, and many young adults need to reestablish eligibility under the new standard.

Our team at Grech Law Firm Attorney & Counselor helps Michigan families navigate SSI claims for children. Contact us for a free consultation.

The Social Security Disability application and appeals process is complex, technical, and unforgiving of mistakes. While it’s possible to apply on your own, working with an experienced disability attorney significantly improves the odds of a successful outcome — and costs you nothing unless you win. The SSDI system has its own terminology, procedures, and standards that aren’t intuitive.

Knowing how to frame medical evidence, what the SSA is looking for in a residual functional capacity assessment, how the vocational grid rules work, and how to challenge vocational expert testimony at a hearing requires specialized knowledge that most applicants don’t have. Statistics consistently show that applicants represented by attorneys at the hearing stage are approved at significantly higher rates than those who appear alone.

This isn’t because attorneys game the system — it’s because preparation, proper documentation, and understanding of the legal standards that govern the hearing make a genuine difference in how a case is presented and evaluated. An attorney helps identify weaknesses in a claim before they become reasons for denial. Missing records, gaps in treatment, inconsistent symptom descriptions, and mischaracterized work histories are all issues that can be addressed proactively when someone who knows the process reviews the file.

Throughout the appeals process, an attorney handles communications with the SSA, tracks deadlines, requests records, develops legal arguments, and prepares you for what to expect at each stage. This reduces the burden on you during an already stressful period. SSDI attorneys work on contingency — you pay no fee unless benefits are awarded, and fees are regulated by federal law.

There is genuinely no financial risk in seeking representation.

Our team at Grech Law Firm Attorney & Counselor has represented Michigan disability claimants for over 25 years. Contact us for a free consultation.

One of the most difficult aspects of the SSDI process is the time it takes to receive a decision. From initial application to final resolution, the process can span months or even years — and for people unable to work due to a disabling condition, that wait creates real financial strain. Understanding why the process takes as long as it does, and what can be done to avoid unnecessary delays, helps set realistic expectations.

Initial applications typically take three to six months for a decision from Disability Determination Services. This timeframe reflects the time needed to gather medical records, review the evidence, and apply the SSA’s eligibility criteria. Cases involving complex medical conditions or incomplete documentation tend to take longer. If a claim is denied at the initial level and a reconsideration is filed, that adds additional months to the timeline.

And if the case proceeds to a hearing before an administrative law judge, the wait can extend to a year or more depending on the region and the ALJ’s caseload. The national average hearing wait time has historically been around 12 months. There are limited ways to accelerate the process. The SSA’s Compassionate Allowances program expedites decisions for applicants with certain severe conditions, including terminal cancers and a number of rare diseases.

The Terminal Illness (TERI) program similarly accelerates cases involving terminal diagnoses. If your condition qualifies for either program, flagging it at the time of application can shorten your wait significantly. Submitting a complete, well-documented application from the start — and responding promptly to any SSA requests — prevents delays that are entirely within your control.

Our team at Grech Law Firm Attorney & Counselor helps Michigan clients manage their claims efficiently and avoid preventable delays. Contact us to discuss your case.

Applying for Supplemental Security Income requires more than submitting a form — you need to support your application with thorough documentation covering both your disability and your financial situation. Gathering the right evidence before you apply can prevent delays and improve your chances of approval. Medical records are the foundation of the disability portion of your SSI claim.

These should include records from all treating physicians, specialists, therapists, and other healthcare providers. The records should document your diagnosis, ongoing treatment, medications, and — most importantly — how your condition affects your ability to function in daily life. The SSA evaluates functional limitations, not diagnoses alone. A statement from your treating physician describing your limitations in a work context is especially valuable.

If your doctor can describe specifically what you cannot do — how long you can sit, stand, or walk, whether you can concentrate for extended periods, whether you can reliably maintain a schedule — that information directly supports your claim. Financial documentation is required because SSI is a needs-based program. You will need to provide proof of income from all sources, including wages, pension payments, and any other benefits.

Bank statements and documentation of your assets — savings accounts, investments, and property — are also required. If you own a home or one vehicle, those are generally excluded from the resource calculation. Proof of identity and residency is also necessary. This includes a birth certificate or passport, Social Security card, and documentation of your current address. If you have previously applied for SSI or SSDI, records from prior applications and any decisions issued can be relevant, particularly if your condition has worsened since a prior denial.

Our team at Grech Law Firm Attorney & Counselor helps Michigan SSI applicants prepare complete, well-supported applications. Contact us for a free consultation.

Immigration status is an important factor in Social Security Disability eligibility that is often misunderstood. The rules differ between SSDI and SSI, and understanding where you stand can help you determine which programs, if any, you may qualify for. SSDI eligibility is tied to work history and Social Security contributions, not immigration status directly. If you have worked legally in the United States, paid Social Security taxes, and earned sufficient work credits, you may be eligible for SSDI regardless of whether you are a citizen.

Non-citizens — including lawful permanent residents (green card holders) — can qualify for SSDI based on their U.S. work record. SSI has stricter immigration requirements. In general, only certain categories of qualified immigrants are eligible for SSI, including lawful permanent residents who have worked 40 qualifying quarters in the U.S. or fall into specific humanitarian categories.

Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for SSI. There are also rules about how long you must have been in the U.S. to receive SSI and whether immigration authorities would consider SSI receipt in future immigration decisions. These rules change over time and can be complex, so it’s worth getting current information specific to your situation. For those who worked in countries that have Social Security totalization agreements with the United States, work credits earned in those countries may count toward SSDI eligibility.

The U.S. has totalization agreements with over 30 countries, including many in Europe and Latin America. If you are uncertain about how your immigration status affects your eligibility for disability benefits, our team at Grech Law Firm Attorney & Counselor can help you understand your options. Contact us for a free consultation.