Cudahy Social Security Disability Lawyer

Schedule a free case review with a Cudahy disability attorney trusted by Wisconsin claimants since 1989.

If your application for Social Security disability benefits has been denied, or if you are preparing to file for the first time, our Cudahy, WI social security disability lawyer can evaluate your eligibility and represent you at every stage of the appeals process. Hickey & Turim, S.C. has been assisting disabled individuals and their families in Wisconsin since 1989. Contact us to discuss your case.

Social Security Disability Lawyer Cudahy, WI

The Social Security Administration administers two primary disability benefit programs. Social Security Disability Insurance, commonly referred to as SSDI, provides monthly benefits to individuals who have accumulated sufficient work credits through prior employment and whose medical condition prevents them from engaging in substantial gainful activity. Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, is a needs-based program available to disabled individuals with limited income and resources, regardless of work history.

Both programs apply the same medical definition of disability: the applicant must have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that prevents substantial gainful activity and that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. The SSA evaluates claims through a five-step sequential evaluation process that considers current work activity, the severity of the impairment, whether the condition meets or equals a listed impairment, the ability to perform past relevant work, and the ability to do other work given age, education, and work experience. Understanding where a claim stands in that framework is essential to building an effective approval or appeal strategy.

Types of Social Security Disability Cases We Handle in Cudahy

Hickey & Turim, S.C. assists clients throughout Cudahy and across Wisconsin with the full range of Social Security disability matters. The following are the principal categories of representation we provide.

• Initial SSDI applications. Filing a well-documented initial application is consequential because the record developed at this stage follows the claim through every subsequent level of review. We assist clients in identifying the medical evidence and functional assessments the SSA requires and in presenting that information in a manner that accurately reflects the extent of the applicant’s limitations.
• SSI applications for disabled adults. Supplemental Security Income provides support for disabled individuals whose work history does not support an SSDI claim, or whose SSDI benefit falls below the SSI threshold. Eligibility turns on both medical criteria and financial circumstances, including income and resource limits.
• Denied claims and requests for reconsideration. Most Social Security disability claims are denied at the initial determination stage. The SSA’s appeal process begins with a request for reconsideration. The deadline for requesting reconsideration is 60 days from the date of the denial notice plus five days for mailing.
• ALJ hearing representation. When reconsideration is denied, the next level of appeal is a hearing before an administrative law judge. Attorney representation at this stage is associated with substantially better outcomes.
• Appeals Council review and federal court. Claimants who receive an unfavorable ALJ decision may request review by the Social Security Appeals Council. If the Appeals Council denies review or issues an unfavorable decision, further appeal may be pursued in federal district court.
• Disability cessation and continuing disability reviews. The SSA periodically reviews approved beneficiaries to determine whether disability continues. A cessation determination can result in termination of benefits, and these decisions are subject to the same appeals process as initial denials.

Why Choose Hickey & Turim, S.C. as My Social Security Disability Lawyer in Cudahy, WI?

Established Representation for Disabled Wisconsin Claimants

Hickey & Turim, S.C. has represented injured and disabled individuals throughout Wisconsin since 1989. The firm handles Social Security disability claims with the same plaintiff-focused preparation that defines its workers’ compensation practice, giving each claimant’s medical history, work record, and functional limitations the individualized analysis those claims require.

David Turim co-founded the firm alongside David Hickey and has spent his career representing claimants in disability and injury matters across Wisconsin. Licensed since 1985, Mr. Turim earned his law degree from Marquette University Law School and has been a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Association for Justice throughout his career. His practice encompasses workers’ compensation, Social Security disability, and personal injury matters.

A Record of Results and Professional Recognition

The attorneys at Hickey & Turim, S.C. have helped their clients recover millions of dollars in disability benefits, workers’ compensation recoveries, and related claims across decades of plaintiff-side practice. Social Security disability representation is handled on a contingency fee basis. No legal fee is charged unless benefits are awarded, and there are no upfront costs to retain the firm.

Understanding Social Security Disability Cases

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Social Security Disability Cases

Social Security disability claims do not involve liability in the personal injury sense. The relevant inquiry is whether the applicant meets the SSA’s medical and non-medical eligibility criteria. The forms of compensation available differ between programs:

• SSDI monthly benefits, the amount of which is determined by the applicant’s lifetime earnings record and the Social Security taxes paid on those earnings
• SSI monthly payments, which are calculated based on the applicable federal benefit rate adjusted for any countable income the applicant receives
• Medicare coverage, which becomes available to SSDI recipients after a 24-month waiting period from the date benefits begin
• Medicaid eligibility, which is generally available to SSI recipients in Wisconsin from the date of approval
• Back pay or retroactive benefits covering the period between the established onset of disability and the date of approval, which can represent a substantial lump sum in cases where the claims process has been lengthy

The SSA’s definition of disability is strict. The impairment must be medically documented, must prevent the performance of any substantial gainful activity, and must have lasted or be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. The Listing of Impairments identifies specific conditions that are presumptively disabling, but a claim can also be approved on the basis of a functional capacity analysis even if the listed criteria are not fully met.

What Are Important Aspects of a Social Security Disability Case?

Several considerations consistently affect whether a Social Security disability claim succeeds and at what stage:

• The completeness and quality of the medical record is the most significant factor in the outcome of most disability claims. Gaps in treatment, sparse clinical documentation, or opinions unsupported by clinical findings can be used to deny a claim at any level.
• Residual functional capacity, or RFC, is the SSA’s assessment of what a claimant can still do despite their impairments. A well-supported RFC assessment from the treating physician can be central to approval.
• Procedural deadlines govern every stage of the process. Missing the 60-day deadline to request reconsideration, appeal to an ALJ, or seek Appeals Council review results in the loss of appeal rights for that claim period, requiring the claimant to begin the process anew.
• Understanding how SSA determines disability eligibility is an essential foundation for preparing a claim that addresses the specific criteria the agency applies at each step of its evaluation.

What Is the Social Security Disability Case Timeline?

Social Security disability claims follow a sequential administrative process, with each stage building on the record established at the prior level:

• Initial application. The claimant submits an application for SSDI or SSI, which is reviewed by the SSA’s field office and forwarded to the state Disability Determination Services agency for a medical determination. Initial processing typically takes several months.
• Initial determination. The Disability Determination Services agency issues a written decision. The majority of initial claims are denied, though the basis for denial varies by case.
• Request for reconsideration. The claimant has 60 days from receipt of the denial notice to request reconsideration, at which a different examiner reviews the claim and any new evidence submitted.
• ALJ hearing. If reconsideration is denied, the claimant may request a hearing before an administrative law judge. The hearing is the primary opportunity for live testimony and direct engagement with a decision-maker, and wait times vary by hearing office.
• Appeals Council review. An unfavorable ALJ decision may be appealed to the Social Security Appeals Council, which can deny review, issue its own decision, or remand the case to an ALJ for further proceedings.
• Federal court. If the Appeals Council denies review or issues an unfavorable decision, the claimant may file a civil action in federal district court challenging the agency’s determination.

What Should You Bring to Your Social Security Disability Consultation?

The following materials will support a more thorough initial assessment of your claim:

• A list of all treating physicians, hospitals, and clinics where you have received treatment
• Copies of any SSA correspondence you have received, including denial notices, requests for information, or benefit award letters
• Documentation of your work history, including the types of jobs held, physical and mental demands of those positions, and when you last worked
• Any medical records, diagnostic reports, or functional assessments already in your possession, particularly those addressing your ability to perform work-related activities

Your attorney will assess the status and strength of your claim and advise on the most appropriate course of action given the procedural posture of your case.

What Are Important Wisconsin Legal Resources for Social Security Disability Cases?

Social Security disability claims are governed by federal law and administered by the SSA. The following resources address the rules, eligibility standards, and procedures applicable to Wisconsin claimants:

• The SSA disability page provides foundational information about SSDI eligibility, the application process, and what to expect after filing.
• SSA’s eligibility page outlines the medical and work history requirements that must be satisfied to qualify for SSDI benefits.
• The SSA SSI eligibility page explains the income, resource, and medical criteria applicable to Supplemental Security Income.
• The federal regulation governing the sequential evaluation process is published at 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520 and provides the authoritative framework the SSA applies to all adult disability determinations.
• The SSA appeals page outlines the available levels of appeal, deadlines, and procedures for challenging an unfavorable disability determination.

Reach Out to Hickey & Turim, S.C. to Schedule a Consultation

Our Cudahy, WI social security disability lawyer is available to review your claim at no cost and with no obligation. Hickey & Turim, S.C. handles Social Security disability matters on a contingency fee basis in accordance with SSA regulations, meaning no legal fee is owed unless benefits are awarded. Contact us to schedule your free case review.