Arizona SSDI Lawyer. For denied claims.

Who qualifies for SSDI

Social Security applies two tests.

The work test. You need enough work credits, and enough of them must be recent. Most people over 31 need 40 credits, with 20 earned in the 10 years before the disability began. You earn up to four credits a year. One credit takes $1,890 in earnings in 2026 and $1,970 in 2027. Your coverage ends on your “date last insured.” You must prove you became disabled before that date.

The medical test. Your condition must keep you from substantial work for at least 12 months, or be expected to result in death. In 2026, substantial work means earning more than $1,690 a month. In 2027 the figure is $1,770. Social Security looks at what you can still do, not only at your diagnosis.

How an Arizona SSDI claim moves

1. Application. You file with Social Security online, by phone, or at a field office.
2. Initial decision. Arizona’s Disability Determination Services, a state agency, gathers your records and decides the medical question for Social Security.
3. Reconsideration. If you are denied, you ask for a second review by a different examiner. You have 60 days.
4. Hearing. If you are denied again, you ask for a hearing before an administrative law judge. Arizona hearings are assigned to Social Security hearing offices in downtown Phoenix, north Phoenix, and Tucson. Hearings are held in person, by video, or by phone.
5. Appeals Council and federal court. Further review is available after an unfavorable hearing decision.

Most people who contact us have already been denied once. A denial at the first two steps is common. It does not decide what a judge will do with a complete record.

Why claims are denied

• Medical records are missing, or stop months before the decision.
• The file has no opinion from a treating doctor about work limits.
• Social Security decided you could return to past work, or do other work.
• The date you stopped working and the date your records show disability do not match.
• You earned over the monthly limit after you say you became disabled.
• A deadline passed.

Each of these can be addressed on appeal. Our free doctor forms give your physician a structured way to describe your limits.

If you are 50 or older

Social Security’s rules change at 50, 55, and 60. Under the Medical-Vocational Guidelines, an older worker limited to sedentary or light work may be found disabled even if some jobs remain possible on paper. Age, education, and the skill level of your past work all count. Read our guide to the grid rules.

What SSDI pays

Your benefit is based on your lifetime earnings record, not on how severe your condition is. Three rules shape the first payment:

• Five-month waiting period. Benefits begin with the sixth full month after your disability began.
• Back pay. Past-due benefits can reach back up to 12 months before your application date, if you were disabled that early. See how back pay works.
• Medicare. Coverage begins after 24 months of SSDI entitlement.

Certain family members may also qualify on your record.

What we do in an SSDI appeal

• File the appeal on time and confirm Social Security received it.
• Collect and submit medical records through the hearing date.
• Ask your doctors for written opinions on your work limits.
• Review your earnings record and date last insured.
• Prepare you for the judge’s questions.
• Question the vocational expert at the hearing.
• Submit a written brief where the judge requires or permits one.

You work with attorney Joseph J. Duerst, not a call center. Mr. Duerst is admitted in Arizona (State Bar No. 029907) and is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives. He has represented claimants at more than 3,500 Social Security hearings.

What it costs

We charge no fee unless you are awarded benefits. The fee is set by federal law and must be approved by Social Security. It is 25 percent of your past-due benefits, up to a cap of $9,200. Social Security pays it from your back pay. You may be responsible for case costs such as medical record fees. We explain those before you sign.

Arizona SSDI questions

How long do I have to appeal a denial?

Sixty days from the date you receive the notice. Social Security assumes you received it five days after the date on the letter.

Can I work while my claim is pending?

Earning more than the monthly limit can defeat a claim. Talk to us before you start or increase work.

Do I need to live in Phoenix?

No. We represent claimants across Arizona. Many hearings are held by phone or video.

What is the difference between SSDI and SSI?

SSDI is based on your work record. SSI is based on financial need. Some people qualify for both. See SSI in Arizona and SSDI vs SSI.

Should I file a new application or appeal?

An appeal usually protects your original filing date and the back pay tied to it. A new application usually does not. Ask before you choose.

J Disability Law Firm, PLLC · Joseph J. Duerst, Attorney · 18444 N. 25th Ave, Suite 420, Phoenix, AZ 85023 · (602) 607-0000. This page is general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different. Past results do not predict the outcome of your case.