Applying for disability on your own often means long holds with Social Security and letters no one explains. If you did everything right and still got a denial, you're in good company, and your claim isn't over.
Help applying for Social Security disability means working with a trained advocate who gathers your medical evidence, completes your forms, and tracks your deadlines with the Social Security Administration (SSA). At Turnout, a social security disability advocate supports you from your first application through an appeal hearing, and you pay nothing unless you win.
Below, you'll see how that works at each stage, who's on your team, and what it costs. You can also see everything in one place on our Social Security Disability hub.
Help at every stage of your claim
Most claims move through up to three stages: the application, reconsideration, and a hearing. Turnout offers support at each one.
SSDI application help
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays a monthly benefit to people who worked, paid Social Security taxes, and can no longer work because of a medical condition. Your work record decides whether you qualify.
Our SSDI application help covers the claim from start to finish. We gather your medical evidence and complete each form accurately. We also watch for the small errors that cause common delays.
Picture a 57-year-old delivery driver who stopped working after a spine injury. Her records sit with three different doctors. Her advocate gathers each set and matches it to her work history, so SSA sees the full picture in one file.
One thing to plan for: SSDI payments don't start right away. There's a waiting period after your disability begins, and SSA explains how it works in its Disability Benefits booklet on ssa.gov.
SSI application help
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a monthly payment for people with a disability and very limited income and savings. It doesn't depend on your work history, because it's based on need.
SSI has strict limits on how much money and property you can have. Some things, like your home, usually don't count toward that limit. Check the current SSI resource rules in federal regulations on the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations before you apply.
Our SSI application help focuses on getting your financial and personal details documented correctly. Accurate records reduce processing problems. Some people qualify for both SSDI and SSI, so it's worth asking about both when you start.
Disability reconsideration after a denial
Reconsideration is the first appeal. A new SSA reviewer, who wasn't part of the first decision, looks at your claim again.
There's a firm deadline to ask for reconsideration, and it's counted from your denial notice. Your notice states the deadline, and you can check the current rules in SSA's regulations on the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
You may have been told no before without anyone explaining why. Our disability reconsideration work starts with your denial letter. We find what SSA said was missing. Then we gather that evidence and rebuild the case for the next review.
Disability hearing help before a judge
If reconsideration is denied, you can ask for a hearing with an administrative law judge (ALJ). An ALJ is an SSA judge who reviews your case and hears from you directly. This request has its own deadline, which your reconsideration notice will list.
Our disability hearing help prepares you for that day. We organize your evidence and help you understand what to expect when you present your claim before the judge. Your advocate stays with you until the end.
Who's on your team
Your advocate is a trained professional who understands the system from the inside out. They focus on you and on the strength of your case.
Licensed clinicians support the advocates.
Software tracks every deadline and every form, so nothing slips.
Turnout assigns you a dedicated team that handles the time-consuming work. It waits through long SSA hold times, files paperwork, and sends you frequent updates. That frees your advocate to spend their time on you.
With 50 U.S. states supported, Turnout is there for people across the country. More than 10,000 people have had Turnout on their side, and we hold a 4.7 Verified Reviews score, as shown on our Social Security Disability hub. One client, Regina P. put it this way: "they were very knowledgeable and provided answers before I even asked the questions."
Turnout isn't a law firm. Your advocate doesn't provide legal representation or legal advice.
What it costs
There are no upfront costs. For how fees work, check Turnout's own pricing details.
The fee is set by SSA. It's paid directly out of your past-due benefits. Past-due benefits are the money SSA owes you for the months between when your benefits should have started and when you're approved. You can read how SSA handles fees for representatives on ssa.gov.
You won't get a bill in the mail while your claim is pending.
How long it takes
Timelines vary by state and by claim type. For a sense of how long your application may take to reach an initial decision, reach out through our contact page.
Each appeal stage adds more time. We can't make SSA decide faster, and we won't promise a date. What we can do is keep your file complete and your deadlines met. Jake's frequent updates keep you informed about where your claim stands.
How getting started works
- Tell us what's happening. Share your condition, your work history, and any letters from SSA. If you've already been denied, have that notice nearby.
- We handle the hard stuff. Your advocate builds the claim, and Jake takes the hold times and paperwork.
- You get the help you need. You hear what's next at every stage, from the application to a hearing if it comes to that.
If you'd rather talk to a person first, reach us through our contact page.
Other help you may qualify for
A disability claim is often one piece of a bigger picture.
Medicare. After you've received SSDI for a set period, you can become eligible for Medicare at any age. SSA explains the timing in its Disability Benefits booklet on ssa.gov.
Medicaid. In most states, getting SSI also qualifies you for Medicaid. SSA explains how this works in its guide, Understanding Supplemental Security Income, on ssa.gov.
Healthcare support. Turnout's Healthcare Advocacy team helps with Medicare coverage, denied claims, specialist referrals, and medical bills. If a mental health condition such as depression or PTSD is part of why you stopped working, see how our advocates coordinate mental health care.
Benefits you haven't found yet. Radar, our free benefits scan, asks a few questions and shows programs you may qualify for. Food assistance and local support programs are easy to miss when you're focused on one claim.
Your next step today
Find your most recent letter from SSA, or the date your condition stopped you from working. That one detail tells your advocate where your claim stands and what comes next.