• For an ADULT (18+ years old), your 1+ physical and/or mental condition(s) must significantly limit your ability to perform basic work-related activities—lifting, remembering, sitting, standing and/or walking—for 12+ consecutive months. If your condition(s) does NOT prevent you from performing basic work-related activities for 12+ consecutive months, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will find that you do NOT have 1+ qualifying disability(s).

• For a MINOR (Newborn to 17 years old), you must have 1+ physical and/or mental condition(s) that seriously limits your activities, AND your condition(s) must be expected to last for 12+ consecutive months or result in death.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers 2 types of Disability Assistance:

• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), otherwise known as Title II,

AND

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI), otherwise known as Title XVI.

Sometimes, yes. Qualifying for both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is called receiving ‘Concurrent Benefits,’ which can occur if your SSDI monthly amount is less than the current SSI monthly amount (for example, in 2024 SSI is $943/month). You do NOT need to do anything special in order to apply for Concurrent Benefits, which can be applied for at the same time through the Social Security Administration (SSA). Whether you are applying in-person, online or by telephone for SSDI and/or SSI, the SSA will review your income, work history and assets, and then determine whether you are eligible for SSDI, SSI or both.

To apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you must submit a claim application to the Social Security Administration (SSA), which can be found on the SSA’s website at https://www.ssa.gov/apply for adults (18+ year olds) and for minors (Newborn to 17 year olds). You can also request an in-person appointment to apply at your local SSA office by calling 1-800-772-1213, 8:00 am – 7:00 pm, or for hearing impaired, call 1-800-325-0778, 8:00 am – 7:00 pm, Monday - Friday.

There is no limit to how many times you can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), however you should file a new claim application only if you develop 1+ new disabling condition(s) or your previous condition(s) has drastically worsened since the most recent denial on your prior SSDI and/or SSI claim. In most cases, it is advisable to appeal a current SSDI and/or SSI claim as far as possible rather than to periodically file multiple new SSDI and/or SSI claims.

Every Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim is different and can be won or lost due to a variety of factors, however successful SSDI and/or SSI claims, for both adults (18+ year olds) and for minors (Newborn to 17 year olds), usually have the following traits in common:

• Helpful medical records for you. A set of medical records that demonstrate steady treatment for your disabling condition(s) for at least the previous 5 years leading up to your Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing—this is the # 1, most important factor of any successful SSDI and/or SSI claim.

• Your demonstrated consistent compliance with medical treatment. It is vital that your medical records show your compliance with all prescribed treatment as well as portraying few, or preferably not any, documented refusal(s) by you for following medical advice, such as your failure to take medications as prescribed by your doctor(s)—the Social Security Administration (SSA) wants to see that you are doing everything possible to improve your condition(s).

• No Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) work income earned by you after your Disability Alleged Onset Date (AOD). Regardless of how severe your disabling condition(s) is currently or may have been in the past, it will not matter if your work records demonstrate that you are consistently earning SGA income after your Disability AOD, the date that you claim you became disabled.

• No drug or excessive alcohol usage, and/or other ‘negative’ behavior, that is documented in your records. The absence in your records of any drug (including marijuana) or alcohol use that contributes to your disability(s), as well as the absence of any mention of other ‘negative’ behavior by you that otherwise contributes to your disability(s), such as long-term or continuous smoking while you are simultaneously claiming Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or other respiratory issues as your disability(s), are all necessary for the credibility of your SSDI and/or SSI claim.

• Your keeping an open mind. Your willingness to listen to your attorney, discuss matters calmly and possibly compromise when it is beneficial for your SSDI and/or SSI claim are all important. At best, statistically you have approximately only a 57% chance of winning your SSDI and/or SSI claim at your ALJ hearing, which may require that you forego claiming some months of potential backpay in order to secure receiving multiple years of SSDI and/or SSI benefits going forward—if your attorney decides that winning your entire SSDI and/or SSI claim is not realistic, they may likely desire to make a bargain (with your prior approval) with your ALJ (judge) rather than risk losing your entire SSDI and/or SSI claim; it is your responsibility to at least consider your attorney’s advice before immediately telling them “no.”

• Your ongoing honesty. Your commitments to always tell the truth and to not lie or exaggerate are critical to better ensuring that your ALJ hearing testimony will remain consistent with your work history and your medical records, which your attorney should review with you prior to your ALJ hearing. Aside from your legal obligation to answer all questions honestly by being sworn under oath at your ALJ hearing, your ALJ will also more likely deny your SSDI and/or SSI claim if they hear you repeatedly make false or exaggerated statements (even on minor issues), or especially if you are discovered to lie about even just 1 important component to your SSDI and/or SSI claim—your ALJ will likely ask you questions that can be proven or disproven by information in your medical records, especially about prior drug or alcohol use, so it advisable to tell the truth rather than risk being caught in a lie.

In theory, you can submit any type of evidence to support your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim, however in reality the following types of evidence are given the MOST consideration for your SSDI and/or SSI claim:

• Federal Government and Social Security Administration (SSA) records, such as past work chronologies or Consultative Examination (CE) reports—this evidence is usually given the very most consideration for your SSDI and/or SSI claim.

• Medical, school and/or work records that are NO OLDER than 5 years prior to your Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing date; it is highly unlikely that any records from over 5 years prior to your ALJ hearing date will be given much consideration.

• Your own verbal testimony if you are an adult (18+ years old) and are appearing at an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing; the optional hearing testimonies of your friends and/or family members are useful only if those friends and/or family members can offer information about your disabling condition(s) that you cannot, which is typically not the case unless you are unable to effectively communicate on your own or you are a minor (Newborn to 17 years old) whose parent/guardian will testify on your behalf.

• Your parent/guardian’s verbal testimony if you are a minor (Newborn to 17 years old) who are appearing at an ALJ hearing on your behalf.

*Letters attesting to your disability(s) that are written by yourself, your friends and/or your family can be submitted for consideration, however letters or reports from 3rd parties who interact with you on a professional basis, such as treating doctors, teachers and/or employers, will be given much greater consideration*

Probably not. Having a diagnosis of even a life-threatening disease or condition(s), such as Cancer or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), will definitely support your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim, however the diagnosis must be supplemented by treatment notes and/or medical opinion(s) which also demonstrate your difficulty to function despite your attempting everything possible to improve your diagnosed disease and/or condition(s). For example, if your medical records show that your functionality and/or overall health are stable or are even improving despite your Cancer or HIV diagnosis—which may be due to helpful medication(s) and/or the beneficial treatment(s) you are receiving—you would likely NOT be eligible for SSDI and/or SSI based on having these diseases or conditions alone UNLESS you can make a convincing case that you are still experiencing great difficulty because of your diagnosed disease and/or condition(s) despite any improvement(s) that you may appear to be experiencing.

Additionally, your SSDI and/or SSI claim will likely NOT succeed, regardless of the severity of your disabiling condition(s), if you are consisently working and earning Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) after your Disability Alleged Onset Date (AOD).

Unfortunately, for most people it takes approximately 3 years to receive a favorable decision from the time a completed Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim application is first submitted to the Social Security Administration (SSA), and usually a favorable decision will occur at the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing stage, the 2nd level of the Disability Appeals process.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits both take approximately 60 Days to begin payment from the date of your favorable decision. If you are a partial or a full SSI recipient (not SSDI), you must also attend a Pre-Effectuation Review Contact (PERC) interview, which is a low-key discussion (usually over the telephone) with the Social Security Administration (SSA) about your assets and your finances—your PERC interview will occur approximately 1 month after your favorable SSI decision Notice date and approximately 1 month before your SSI payments begin. You do NOT need an attorney present for your PERC interview.

If, after 60 days following your receipt of the favorable decision for your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim you have NOT received either a telephone call or a 2nd letter from the Social Security Administration (SSA) informing you when your SSDI and/or SSI payments will begin, it is advisable for you to either call any SSA branch in the United States or visit your local SSA branch with a copy of your favorable decision to inform the SSA that your SSDI and/or SSI claim was decided favorably and that you would like to have your payments set up.

While it is EXTREMELY RARE for the SSA to fail in notifying you of your SSDI and/or SSI payment schedule for more than 60 days following your receipt of your favorable decision, it is nevertheless possible since the SSA is frequently backlogged with many other SSDI and/or SSI claims, which is why it is advisable to wait for 60 days following your receipt of your favorable decision for a 2nd notification regarding your SSDI and/or SSI payments before contacting the SSA to set up your payments.

Additionally, once your SSDI and/or SSI claim has been favorably decided, your SSDI and/or SSI payment schedule will be managed entirely by the SSA, which unfortunately means that neither Nunn Disability Law or any other law firm can direct the SSDI and/or SSI payment process to move faster—this is a matter that is best handled between you (the claimant) and the SSA.

If you disagree with your ongoing monthly benefit amount and/or your backpay amount from your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), it is advisable to take the following steps:

Step 1: For your SSDI and/or SSI ongoing monthly benefit amount, review your Social Security Administration (SSA) Award Notice, which will give a breakdown of which type(s) of ongoing benefit you are receiving—SSDI (Title II), SSI (Title XVI) or both (Concurrent Benefits)—and what the monthly amount will be for your designated ongoing benefit type. An SSDI ongoing monthly benefit will typically be a larger amount than an SSI ongoing monthly benefit so it is important to verify which type(s) of benefit you are receiving when considering your ongoing monthly benefit amount.

Step 2: For your SSDI and/or SSI backpay amount, in addition to reading your SSA Award Notice, it is advisable to also look at the Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) (judge) hearing decision that will state on the 1st Page whether you are eligible for SSDI, SSI or both—if you are receiving partial or full SSDI, your SSDI backpay will retroactively go to the date that the ALJ found you disabled (usually your Disability Alleged Onset Date (AOD)), which can be found on the ALJ hearing decision’s last page; if you are receiving partial or full SSI, your SSI backpay will retroactively go to the month after either your claim’s most recent filing date or, if applicable, your Protective Filing Date (PFD), which can both be found on the ALJ hearing decision’s 1st and last pages; and if you are receiving Concurrent Benefits, it would be helpful to also look on the ALJ hearing decision’s 1st and last pages. Knowing whether you are receiving SSDI, SSI or both, as well as knowing your claim’s most recent filing date, your Disability AOD and/or your PFD (if applicable) will all help clarify the amount of backpay you should receive. Since SSDI backpay usually goes further retroactively in time than SSI backpay, an SSDI backpay amount will typically be larger than an SSI backpay amount.

Step 3: If you still are uncertain about your SSDI and/or SSI ongoing monthly benefit amount and/or your backpay amount, it is advisable to contact any SSA branch in the United States to make either an in-person or a telephone appointment to discuss your SSDI and/or SSI. Once your SSDI and/or SSI claim has been favorably decided, your benefits will be managed entirely by the SSA, which unfortunately means that neither Nunn Disability Law or any other law firm can change your SSDI and/or SSI ongoing monthly benefit amount and/or your backpay amount for you—this is a matter that is best handled between you (the claimant) and the SSA.

Not necessarily. The Social Security Administration (SSA) performs an eligibility reevaluation for every Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipient approximately every 3 years, also known as a ‘Continuing Disability Review’ (CDR). Because CDRs evaluate whether your qualifying disability(s) has improved or not, it is vital to continue receiving regular medical evaluation and treatment of your condition(s) in order to be able to provide medical proof to the SSA. CDRs most commonly occur when a minor (Newborn to 17 years old) receiving SSI turns 18 years old or when an SSDI and/or SSI recipient of any age is discovered to be earning Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) or more through work income.

If a CDR suspends or terminates your SSDI and/or SSI, you must appeal within 10 days (plus an additional 5 days for mailing) of the SSA’s Termination Notice date if you would like to continue receiving SSDI and/or SSI during your appeal by completing an SSA FORM 795.

For both adults (18+ year olds) and for minors (Newborn to 17 year olds), common examples of disabling PHYSICAL conditions can include, but are NOT limited to:

• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

• Brain tumors

• Cancer (most types)

• Cardiovascular (heart) disorders

• Coma or persistent vegetative state

• Congenital (multi-body part) disorders

• Digestive (intestine, liver, pancreas, stomach) disorders

• Downs Syndrome

• Epilepsy (seizures)

• Hearing (deafness) disorders

• Hematological (bone marrow, sickle cell anemia) disorders

• Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV)

• Kidney disorders

• Lupus

• Muscular Dystrophy

• Musculoskeletal (joint, spine/back) disorders

• Parkinson’s Disease

• Peripheral Neuropathy

• Pituitary gland disorders

• Respiratory (breathing) disorders

• Skin disorders

• Thyroid gland disorders

• Traumatic Brain Injury

• Vision (blindness) disorders

For both adults (18+ year olds) and for minors (Newborn to 17 year olds), common examples of disabling MENTAL conditions can include, but are NOT limited to:

• Anxiety disorders

• Autism

• Bipolar disorders

• Depressive disorders

• Eating disorders

• Impulsive-Control disorders

• Intellectual disorders

• Neurocognitive disorders

• Neurodevelopment (difficulty paying attention and hyperactivity) disorders

• Obsessive-Compulsive disorders

• Paranoia disorders

• Personality and impulse-control disorders

• Schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders

• Trauma and stressor-related disorders

The 3 ways for an adult (18+ years old) to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) as an adult are to:

1. Meet or equal 1+ Adult Medical Listing(s),

AND/OR

2. Prove that your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC), or your ability to perform work that is based on your physical and/or mental condition(s), is sufficiently diminished beyond what your combination of your age, education and Past Relevant Work (PRW) can be expected to perform,

AND/OR

3. Satisfy 1+ Medical-Vocational Guideline(s) (Grid Rules)

For an adult (18+ years old), qualifying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) use the same standard of review, a 5-Step Sequential Evaluation:

STEP 1: Are you currently, or have you been recently, working and earning income that is at least Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), the monthly work earnings amount set by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that adjusts every 1-2 years for inflation?

If yes, you do not qualify for SSDI and/or SSI. If no, Step 2 of the Sequential Evaluation is addressed.

STEP 2: Do you have 1+ ‘severe’ condition(s) (mental and/or physical) that limits your basic work activities (i.e. lifting, standing, walking) and which has lasted, or can be expected to last, for 12+ consecutive months?

If yes, Step 3 of the Sequential Evaluation is addressed. If no, you do not qualify for SSDI and/or SSI.

STEP 3: Does your mental and/or physical condition(s) meet or equal 1+ Adult Medical Listing(s)?

If yes, you do qualify for SSDI and/or SSI, AND you have won your SSDI and/or SSI claim. If no, Step 4 of the Sequential Evaluation is addressed.

STEP 4: Can you return to your Past Relevant Work (PRW), which is prior employment that:

• Was performed within 5 years prior to your Disability’s Alleged Onset Date (AOD) and up to the present, AND

• Lasted long enough for you to learn to perform the position(s) properly, AND

• Qualified as SGA.

If yes, you do not qualify for SSDI and/or SSI, AND you must appeal if you would like to further pursue your SSDI and/or SSI claim. If no, Step 5 of the Sequential Evaluation is addressed.

STEP 5: Can you perform any other type of work in the National Economy that accounts for your age, educational level, mental and/or physical capabilities?

If yes, you do not qualify for SSDI and/or SSI, AND you must appeal if you would like to further pursue your SSDI and/or SSI claim. If no, you do qualify for SSDI and/or SSI, AND you have won your SSDI and/or SSI claim.

The Adult Medical Listings are the 1st of 3 ways for an Adult (18+ years old) to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The Listings are a group of physical and mental conditions whose individual criteria, if met or equaled by your condition(s), will satisfy Step 3 of the Adult Sequential Evaluation and will automatically grant you SSDI and/or SSI eligibility.

The Adult Medical Listings are:

• 1.00. Musculoskeletal disorders

• 2.00. Special senses and speech disorders

• 3.00. Respiratory disorders

• 4.00. Cardiovascular system disorders

• 5.00. Digestive disorders

• 6.00. Genitourinary disorders

• 7.00. Hematological disorders

• 8.00. Skin disorders

• 9.00. Endocrine disorders

• 10.00. Congenital disorders that affect multiple body systems

• 11.00. Neurological disorders

• 12.00. Mental disorders

• 13.00. Cancer (malignant neoplastic diseases)

• 14.00. Immune system disorders

For an adult (18+ years old), proving that your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC), or your capacity to perform work that is based on your physical and/or mental condition(s), is sufficiently diminished is the 2nd of 3 ways to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)—when an adult’s RFC is concluded to be sufficiently eroded based on their age, education and work history, Steps 4 and 5 of the Adult Sequential Evaluation will be satisfied, thus finding eligibility for SSDI and/or SSI if:

a. Your Disability Alleged Onset Date (AOD) is when you are 18-49 years old,

• Your RFC prevents you from being able to perform your Past Relevant Work (PRW), AND

• Your RFC prevents you from being able to perform ALL other work, including Sedentary (mostly sitting as well as lifting no more than 10 lbs. frequently and 10 lbs. occasionally) work and heavier on a fulltime (40+ hours per week) basis.

b. Your Disability AOD is when you are 50-54 years old,

• Your PRW is categorized as ‘unskilled’ or ‘none,’ AND/OR you are determined to have no transferrable work skills, AND

• Your RFC prevents you from performing your PRW, AND

• Your RFC limits you to performing only other Sedentary work or less on a fulltime basis.

c. Your Disability AOD is when you are 55+ years old,

• Your PRW is categorized as ‘unskilled’ or ‘none,’ AND/OR you are determined to have no transferrable work skills, AND

• Your RFC prevents you from performing your PRW, AND

• Your RFC limits you to performing only other Light (sitting and standing as well as lifting no more than 10 lbs. frequently and 20 lbs. occasionally) work, Sedentary work or less on a fulltime basis.

The Medical-Vocational Guidelines (Grid Rules) are the 3rd of 3 ways to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) as an adult (18+ years old).

The Grid Rules is a group of rules set by the Social Security Administration (SSA) based on a position’s exertional level (Sedentary, Light, Medium, Heavy, Very Heavy) and is divided by your age, education and previous work experience—when 1+ Grid Rule(s) is satisfied by your condition(s), Steps 4 and 5 of the Adult Sequential Evaluation will also be satisfied, thus finding eligibility for SSDI and/or SSI. Adults who can be declared ‘disabled’ by satisfying the Grid Rules are those who qualify under:

a. Rule 201.01: 55+ years old on their Disability Alleged Onset Date (AOD), AND

• Have less than a high school education or General Education Development (GED) equivalency, AND

• Have Past Relevant Work (PRW) that is only ‘unskilled’ or ‘none,’ AND

• Can perform only Sedentary (mostly sitting as well as lifting no more than 10 lbs. frequently and 10 lbs. occasionally) work or less on a fulltime (40+ hours per week) basis.

b. Rule 201.02: 55+ years old on their Disability AOD, AND

• Have less than a high school education or GED, AND

• Have no transferrable work skills, AND

• Can perform only Sedentary work or less on a fulltime basis.

c. Rule 201.04: 55+ years old on their Disability AOD, AND

• Have at least a high school education or GED, AND

• Have PRW that is only ‘unskilled’ or ‘none,’ AND

• Can perform only Sedentary work or less on a fulltime basis.

d. Rule 201.06: 55+ years old on their Disability AOD, AND

• Have at least a high school education or GED, AND

• Have no transferrable work skills, AND

• Can perform only Sedentary work or less on a fulltime basis.

e. Rule 201.09: 50-54 years old on their Disability AOD, AND

• Have less than a high school education or GED, AND

• Have PRW that is only ‘unskilled’ or ‘none,’ AND

• Can perform only Sedentary work or less on a fulltime basis.

f. Rule 201.10: 50-54 years old on their Disability AOD, AND

• Have less than a high school education or GED, AND

• Have no transferrable work skills, AND

• Can perform only Sedentary work or less on a fulltime basis.

g. Rule 201.12: 50-54 years old on their Disability AOD, AND

• Have at least a high school education or GED, AND

• Have PRW that is only ‘unskilled’ or ‘none,’ AND

• Can perform only Sedentary work or less on a fulltime basis.

h. Rule 201.14: 50-54 years old on their Disability AOD, AND

• Have at least a high school education or GED, AND

• Have no transferrable work skills, AND

• Can perform only Sedentary work or less on a fulltime basis.

i. Rule 201.17: 45-49 years old on their Disability AOD, AND

• Are illiterate, AND

• Have PRW that is only ‘unskilled’ or ‘none,’ AND

• Can perform only Sedentary work or less on fulltime basis.

j. Rule 202.01: 55+ years old on their Disability AOD, AND

• Have less than a high school education or GED, AND

• Have PRW that is only ‘unskilled’ or ‘none,’ AND

• Can perform only Light (sitting and standing as well as lifting no more than 10 lbs. frequently and 20 lbs. occasionally) work or less on a fulltime basis.

k. Rule 202.02: 55+ years old on their Disability AOD, AND

• Have less than a high school education or GED, AND

• Have no transferrable work skills, AND

• Can perform only Light work or less on a fulltime basis.

l. Rule 202.04: 55+ years old on their Disability AOD, AND

• Have at least a high school education or GED, AND

• Have PRW that is only ‘unskilled’ or ‘none,’ AND

• Can perform only Light work or less on a fulltime basis.

m. Rule 202.06: 55+ years old on their Disability AOD, AND

• Have at least a high school education or GED, AND

• Have no transferrable work skills, AND

• Can perform only Light work or less on a fulltime basis.

n. Rule 202.09: 50-54 years old on their Disability AOD, AND

• Are illiterate, AND

• Have PRW that is only ‘unskilled’ or ‘none,’ AND

• Can perform only Light work or less on a fulltime basis.

o. Rule 203.01: 50-54 years old on their Disability AOD, AND

• Have a marginal education or are illiterate, AND

• Have PRW that is only ‘unskilled’ or ‘none,’ AND

• Can perform only Medium (sitting and standing as well as lifting no more than 25 lbs. frequently and 50 lbs. occasionally) work or less on a fulltime basis.

p. Rule 203.02: 50-54 years old on their Disability AOD, AND

• Have less than a high school education or GED, AND

• Have no work history at all, AND

• Can perform only Medium work or less on a fulltime basis.

q. Rule 203.10: 55+ years old on their Disability AOD, AND

• Have less than a high school education or GED, AND

• Have no work history at all, AND

• Can perform only Medium work or less on a fulltime basis.

Yes, on rare occasions where you are within 6 months of turning either 50 or 55 years old (or 45 years old if you are illiterate) at the time that your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim will be decided (usually the date of your Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing), you can argue a ‘Borderline Case’ that would allow you to qualify for SSDI and/or SSI, despite your not yet being of age, under the Medical-Vocational Guidelines (Grid Rules). You would be required to change your Disability Alleged Onset Date (AOD) to your future 45th, 50th or 55th birthday, which, if your SSDI and/or SSI claim is successful, would permit you to receive ongoing SSDI and/or SSI in future months but would also allow for NO backpay.

As a minor (Newborn to 17 years old), you are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) but not for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) because you do not have the work credits required to qualify for SSDI.

The 2 ways to qualify for SSI as a minor are to:

1. Meet or equal 1+ Minor Medical Listing(s),

AND/OR

2. Prove that your Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) is sufficiently diminished by having 2+ ‘Marked’ limitations and/or 1+ ‘Extreme’ limitation(s) in the 6 Childhood Functional Domains.

As a minor (Newborn to 17 years old), you are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) but not for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) because you do not have the work credits required to qualify for SSDI.

Qualifying for SSI as a minor uses a 3-Step Sequential Evaluation:

STEP 1: Do you have 1+ physical and/or mental condition(s) that seriously limits your activities, AND which can be expected to last for 12+ consecutive months or result in death?

If yes, Step 2 of the Sequential Evaluation is addressed. If no, you do not qualify for SSI.

STEP 2: Does your mental and/or physical condition(s) meet or equal 1+ Minor Medical Listing(s)?

If yes, you do qualify for SSI and you have won your SSI claim. If no, Step 3 of the Sequential Evaluation is addressed.

STEP 3: Does your Residual Function Capacity (RFC) have 2+ ‘Marked’ limitations and/or 1+ ‘Extreme’ limitation(s) in the 6 Childhood Functional Domains?

If yes, you do qualify for SSI and you have won your SSI claim. If no, you do not qualify for SSI and you must appeal if you would like to further pursue your SSI claim.

As a minor (Newborn to 17 years old), you are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) but not for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) because you do not have the work credits required to qualify for SSDI.

The Minor Medical Listings, which are almost identical to the Medical Listings for adults (18+ year olds), are a group of physical and mental conditions whose individual criteria, which, if met or equaled by your condition(s), will satisfy Step 2 of the Minor Sequential Evaluation and will automatically grant you eligibility for SSI.

The Minor Medical Listings are:

• 100.00. Low birth weight and failure to thrive

• 101.00. Musculoskeletal disorders

• 102.00. Special senses and speech disorders

• 103.00. Respiratory disorders

• 104.00. Cardiovascular system disorders

• 105.00. Digestive disorders

• 106.00. Genitourinary disorders

• 107.00. Hematological disorders

• 108.00. Skin disorders

• 109.00. Endocrine disorders

• 110.00. Congenital disorders that affect multiple body systems

• 111.00. Neurological disorders

• 112.00. Mental disorders

• 113.00. Cancer (malignant neoplastic diseases)

• 114.00. Immune system disorders

As a minor (Newborn to 17 years old), you are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) but not for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) because you do not have the work credits required to qualify for SSDI.

A minor whose Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) is shown to be diminished by having 2+ ‘Marked’ limitations and/or 1+ ‘Extreme’ limitation(s) in the 6 Childhood Functional Domains can satisfy Step 3 of the Minor Sequential Evaluation, thus permitting SSI eligibility.

The 6 Childhood Functional Domains are:

• Acquiring and using information

• Attending and completing tasks

• Caring for yourself

• Health and physical wellbeing

• Interacting and relating with others

• Moving about and manipulating objects

No. For minors (Newborn to 17 year olds), there are no Grid Rules. Also as a minor, you are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) but not for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) because you do not have the work credits required to qualify for SSDI.

For adults (18+ year olds), work is classified by exertional level into the following types:

a. Sedentary work (least strenuous)

• You can lift no more than 10 lbs. frequently and 10 lbs. occasionally.

• You must be able to sit for 6-8 hours total (with scheduled breaks) in an 8-hour workday.

• You must be able to use both of your hands for repetitive motions the majority of a workday.

• If you require the use of a cane, crutches or a walker for mobility AND balance while at work, you will likely be limited to Sedentary work on a fulltime (40+ hours per week) basis.

• If you require the use of a wheelchair or a motor scooter for the majority of the time while at work, you will be limited to Sedentary work on a fulltime basis.

• If you cannot perform Sedentary work on a fulltime basis at any age, you will be found ‘disabled.’

• Everyone who is 18-49 years old on their Disability Alleged Onset Date (AOD) must be found to be able to perform LESS than Sedentary work on a fulltime basis in order to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)—a finding of an ability to perform Sedentary work or heavier on a fulltime basis for an 18-49 year-old claimant on their Disability AOD will prevent SSDI and/or SSI eligibility.

• Everyone who is 18-49 years old on their Disability AOD should consider the ‘$64,000 Question:’ Can they perform a
non-stressful, Sedentary position, such as folding silverware in a napkin repeatedly in a restaurant or other public place, for 8+ hours per day (with regular breaks), on a fulltime (40+ hour per week) basis? If they cannot perform such a position, they will likely be found ‘disabled.’ If they can perform such a position, they will likely be found ‘not disabled.’

• Everyone who is 50+ years old on their Disability AOD AND who satisfies the other requirements of 1+ Medical-Vocational Guideline(s) (Grid Rules)—or are 45-49 years old on their Disability AOD AND are illiterate with only ‘unskilled’ or no Past Relevant Work (PRW)—can be determined to be able to perform Sedentary work on a fulltime basis AND still be found ‘disabled.’

b. Light work

• You can lift no more than 10 lbs. frequently and 20 lbs. occasionally.

• You must be able to sit and stand/walk roughly 4 hours each (with breaks) in an 8-hour workday.

• If you require the use of a cane, crutches or a walker for mobility AND balance while at work, you will likely not be able to perform Light work on a fulltime basis.

• If you require the use of a wheelchair or a motor scooter for the majority of the time while at work, you will not be able to perform Light work on a fulltime basis.

• Everyone who is 55+ years old on their Disability AOD AND who satisfies the other requirements of 1+ Grid Rule(s) can be determined to be able to perform Light work and/or Sedentary work—both on fulltime bases—AND still be found ‘disabled.’

c. Medium work

• You can lift no more than 25 lbs. frequently and 50 lbs. occasionally.

• You must be able to sit and stand/walk roughly 4 hours each (with breaks) in an 8-hour workday.

• If you require the use of a cane, crutches, a walker, a wheelchair or a motor scooter while at work, you will not be able to perform Medium work on a fulltime basis.

• For certain individuals who are 50+ years old on their Disability AOD AND who satisfy the other specific Grid Rule requirement(s) (i.e. illiteracy or no work history all), they can be determined to perform Medium work on a fulltime basis AND still be found ‘disabled.’

d. Heavy work

• You can lift no more than 50 lbs. frequently and 100 lbs. occasionally.

• You must be able to sit and stand/walk roughly 4 hours each (with breaks) in an 8-hour workday.

• If you require the use of a cane, crutches, a walker, a wheelchair or a motor scooter while at work, you will not be able to perform Heavy work on a fulltime basis.

e. Very Heavy work (most strenuous)

• You can lift no more than 50 lbs. frequently and 101+ lbs. occasionally.

• You must be able to sit and stand/walk roughly 4 hours each (with breaks) in an 8-hour workday.

If you require the use of a cane, crutches, a walker, a wheelchair or a motor scooter while at work, you will not be able to perform Very Heavy work on a fulltime basis.

Work capacity is irrelevant for minors (Newborn to 17 year olds) and is therefore not classified by exertional level.

For adults (18+ years old), work is classified by skill level in the following categories:

a. Unskilled work

• Requires no or little judgment to perform duties.

• Can be learned usually in 30 days or less.

• Has a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) value of 1-2.

b. Semi-Skilled work

• Requires some skills but does not require performing more complex duties.

• Can be learned in 3-6 months.

• Has an SVP value of 3-4.

c. Skilled work

• Requires judgment to determine if machine and/or manual operations are performed in order to obtain the proper form, quality or quantity of the material to be produced.

• Can be learned in 1+ year(s).

• Has an SVP value of 5-9.

Work capacity is irrelevant for minors (Newborn to 17 year olds) and is therefore not classified by skill level.

An adult (18+ years old) Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Disability hearing for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim is very low-key, informal and is not meant to intimidate anyone who is attending. Unlike what might be seen in other types of court (i.e. criminal), in the movies or on Television, an adult ALJ hearing will have no prosecutor and no Opposing Counsel, however the ALJ (judge) periodically can ask some tough questions that you should be prepared for prior to your ALJ hearing. All adult ALJ hearings are conducted by telephone, video or in-person, with telephone ALJ hearings now being the majority practice after COVID-19. Regardless of how the ALJ hearing is conducted, however, they all generally last about 1 hour and adhere to the following schedule:

1. The oaths are taken. You and all other witnesses—usually only Medical Experts (ME) and Vocational Experts (VE)—take an oath of honesty prior to giving testimony.

2. Your attorney addresses any preliminary matters and gives their opening statement. Your attorney addresses any preliminary matters with your SSDI and/or SSI claim, such as whether to change your Disability Alleged Onset Date (AOD), as well as gives their theory of your claim in their opening statement.

3. The ALJ’s questions for you. The ALJ will review your previous 5 years of work leading up to your Disability AOD followed by questioning you about your condition(s) and your capacity to work.

4. Your attorney’s questions for you. Similar to the ALJ’s questions for you beforehand, your attorney will also question you about your condition(s) and your capacity to work.

5. The ME’s testimony and answers. In the rare instance where an ME is present, the ME will give testimony and will answer questions from both the ALJ and your attorney. Occasionally when there is an ME present, the ALJ will ask the ME to testify and answer questions before either the ALJ or your attorney will ask you questions. You are not expected to participate during this part of the ALJ hearing but are rather asked to just listen.

6. The VE’s testimony and answers. A VE is always present at every adult ALJ hearing and will testify on your work history and your work capacity, to which both the ALJ and your attorney may ask the VE questions. You are not expected to participate during this part of the ALJ hearing but are rather asked to just listen.

7. Your attorney makes any final motions and gives their closing statement. Your attorney makes any final motions, such as a request for a post-hearing Consultative Examination (CE) for you, as well as recites a short closing statement stressing why you should be found ‘disabled.’

8. The ALJ’s dismissal of all parties from the ALJ hearing. The ALJ will conclude the hearing and allow everyone to leave (or hang up, if present by telephone).

Only approximately 5% of all SSDI and/or SSI claim decisions by an ALJ will be issued at an ALJ hearing, otherwise known as making an ‘On The Record Decision’—approximately 95% of all other ALJ hearing decisions will be issued via mail approximately 2-3 months following their respective ALJ hearing dates.

Telephone, video and in-person Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearings all have the same likelihood of a favorable decision as each other for adult Social security disability insurance (SSDI) and/or supplemental security income (SSI) claims.

However, if you do have 1+ noticeable condition(s) that requires an obvious accommodation—i.e. a cane, a walker, crutches, a wheelchair or a motor scooter—it is recommended that you choose to have an in-person ALJ hearing conducted at your local Social Security Administration (SSA) Hearings Office so that the ALJ (judge) will be able to see with their own eyes your need for your cane, crutches, walker, wheelchair, motor scooter, etc.

Otherwise, we recommend that you conduct your adult ALJ hearing via telephone as the most convenient and least stressful option for you.

Minor (Newborn to 17 years old) and adult (18+ years old) Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Disability hearings are generally conducted the same way as each other, with the following exceptions for minor ALJ hearings:

• The minor’s parent/guardian will primarily testify instead of the minor. The minor will be expected to at least be present as well as possibly answer some questions from the ALJ (judge) and the minor’s attorney, especially if the minor is approximately 8-17 years old—95% of all questions asked, however, will likely be directed to the minor’s parent/guardian and not to the minor.

• The minor’s ALJ hearing will focus solely on the minor’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility since minors cannot receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) due to not having the work credits required to qualify.

• The minor’s past employment (if any) will not be considered, or likely even discussed, in evaluating their SSI eligibility.

• There will be no Vocational Expert (VE) present since the minor’s past employment (if any) and work capacity will not be considered, or likely even discussed, in evaluating their SSI eligibility.

Minors (Newborn to 17 year olds) are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) but not for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) because they do not have the work credits required to qualify for SSDI.

Telephone, video and in-person Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Disability hearings for minors all have the same likelihood of a favorable decision as each other, however many ALJs (judges) will insist on conducting an in-person ALJ hearing with both the minor and their parent/guardian present.

Furthermore, if you have 1+ noticeable condition(s) that requires an obvious accommodation—i.e. a cane, a walker, crutches, a wheelchair or a motor scooter—it is recommended that you choose to have an in-person ALJ hearing conducted at your local Social Security Administration (SSA) Hearings Office so that your ALJ will be able to see with their own eyes your need for your cane, crutches, walker, wheelchair, motor scooter, etc.

Otherwise, if your ALJ does NOT insist on conducting an in-person ALJ hearing AND you do NOT have 1+ noticeable condition(s) that would benefit from holding an in-person ALJ hearing, we recommend that you conduct your minor ALJ hearing via telephone as the most convenient and least stressful option for you.

If you miss your Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Disability hearing, you must submit a completed and signed SSA FORM HL-90 with an optional supplemental written statement completed by you, within 10 days (plus an additional 5 days for mailing) of the ALJ's (judge) post-hearing Notice date, that explains why you had ‘Good Cause’ for failing to attend your ALJ hearing—failure to submit a timely, completed ‘Good Cause’ explanation form to the Hearings Office may result in your ALJ deciding your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim without your testimony, which generally is not helpful for your SSDI and/or SSI claim’s overall chances to receive a favorable decision.

You will probably NOT receive a decision at your Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Disability hearing. An ALJ decision that is given at a hearing is called an ‘On The Record Decision,’ which usually occurs at 5% or less of all ALJ hearings everywhere. Instead, approximately 95% of all other ALJ decisions are mailed to each SSDI and/or SSI claimant’s address as well as to their attorney’s address, which usually takes 2-3 months to be issued after the date of each ALJ hearing.

From the time your completed Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim application is first submitted to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the same 5-stage review and appeals process occurs for adults (18+ year olds) and for minors (Newborn to 17 year olds):

Stage 1: Initial Review takes approximately 7 months from the time your SSDI and/or SSI claim application is filed for you to receive an Initial Review decision, which has approximately a 38% favorable decision rate. Initial Reviews are held internally by the SSA without conducting a hearing for you, the claimant.

Stage 2: Reconsideration Review takes approximately 2 months from the time you appeal the Initial Review decision for you to receive a Reconsideration Review decision, which has approximately a 15% favorable decision rate. You have 60 days from the date of the Initial Review decision to request Reconsideration Review by completing an SSA FORM 561-U2. Reconsideration Reviews usually are held internally by the SSA without conducting a hearing for you, the claimant.

Stage 3: An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing takes approximately 9 months from the time you appeal the Reconsideration Review decision to actually hold the ALJ hearing, which has approximately a 57% favorable decision rate. ALJ hearings are conducted with you and your attorney present by telephone, video or in-person based on your preference. ALJ hearing decisions are usually issued within 2-3 months following your ALJ hearing date. You have 60 days from the date of the Reconsideration Review decision to request an ALJ hearing by completing an SSA FORM HA-501. Statistically, the ALJ hearing stage is your best chance for receiving a favorable decision on your SSDI and/or SSI claim.

Stage 4: Appeals Council Review takes approximately 21 months from the time you appeal the ALJ hearing decision to receive an Appeals Council decision, which unfortunately has only approximately a 3% favorable decision rate while another approximate 12% of all SSDI and/or SSI claim denials are remanded (sent back) to (usually) the previous ALJ for further review. You have 60 days from the ALJ hearing decision date to request Appeals Council Review by completing an SSA FORM HA-520. Appeals Council Reviews are held internally without conducting a hearing for you, the claimant.

Stage 5: Federal Court Review takes approximately 2 months from the time you appeal either the ALJ hearing decision or the Appeals Council Review decision (whichever you choose), which unfortunately has only approximately a 1% favorable decision rate while another approximate 57% of all SSDI and/or SSI claim denials by a Federal Court Review are remanded to the previous ALJ for further review. You have 60 days from either the ALJ hearing decision date or the Appeals Council Review decision date to file an action with Federal Court. Federal Court Reviews are usually held internally without conducting a hearing for you, the claimant, however a written brief submission by you or your attorney is usually required.

Yes, you can continue to receive your full Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits while you appeal a decision to terminate or reduce your benefits. You must send the Social Security Administration (SSA) a completed Benefit Continuation Election SSA FORM 795 within 10 days (plus an additional 5-days for mailing) of the SSA’s Termination/Reduction Notice date.

Technically yes, but it is unlikely you would have to repay everything, or possibly even any of the overpayment, by appealing through 3 ways:

• If you do NOT agree that you have been overpaid or if you believe that the amount is incorrect, you can appeal by filing an SSA FORM 561-U2.

• If, 1). You do NOT agree that you have been overpaid, AND 2). You feel you should NOT have to repay because you did NOT cause the overpayment, AND 3). You CANNOT afford to repay the overpayment, you can appeal by filing an SSA FORM 632-BK.

• If you DO agree that you have been overpaid and are willing to repay the overpayment but you cannot afford to repay at the rate explained to you in the Social Security Administration's (SSA) letter, you can appeal by filing an SSA FORM 634.

Yes, prior Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims can be reopened within 1 year of the Initial Review Notice date of your previous SSDI and/or SSI claim. Requests to reopen prior SSDI and/or SSI claim decisions must be made in writing and should demonstrate that there is:

• New and material (important) evidence available,

AND/OR

• There was a material error in the previous claim decision to support reopening the prior SSDI and/or SSI claim.

Probably yes, as long as your new Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim for the exact same disabling condition(s) as before is either:

a. At the same level of severity as the time period adjudicated (decided) before but is claimed for a DIFFERENT time period, in which case the Social Security Administration (SSA) will evaluate your new SSDI and/or SSI claim de novo, or ‘From The Beginning,’

OR

b. Documented by your medical records as worsened than when adjudicated before, regardless of the time period that SSDI and/or SSI is claimed—if you who live in the US 9th Circuit, (Alaska, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon or Washington State), you must demonstrate that your disabling condition(s) have “changed circumstances indicating GREATER disability” compared to your previous SSDI and/or SSI claim(s) for the exact same disabling condition(s), regardless of whether the time period for which your new SSDI and/or SSI claim has also already been adjudicated for a prior SSDI and/or SSI claim—this situation is otherwise known as the Chavez Rule, Chavez v. Bowen, 844 F.2d 691 (9th Cir. 1988).

On the other hand, regardless of where you live, if your new SSDI and/or SSI claim is asserting the exact same disabling condition(s) as before during a time period that was priorly adjudicated by an ALJ in an earlier SSDI and/or SSI claim, your new SSDI and/or SSI claim will be dismissed under the theory of Res Judicata, or ‘Claim Preclusion.’

Past Relevant Work (PRW) is any prior employment which you performed that was:

• Conducted within 5 years prior to your Disability’s Alleged Onset Date (AOD) up to the present,

AND

• Lasted long enough for you to learn to perform the position(s) properly,

AND

• Qualified at least as Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), or the monthly work earnings amount set by the Social Security Administration (SSA), which adjusts every 1-2 years for inflation.

Only work that qualifies as PRW (and nothing else) will be considered by the SSA when addressing Step 4 of the Adult Sequential Evaluation, Can the claimant return to his previous work? This means that prior work which either was not performed for very long and/or did not produce earnings at SGA or more will not be considered as PRW.

For minors (Newborn to 17 year olds), it would be extremely rare (almost non-existent) for PRW to be considered since the vast majority of minors have no PRW.

Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) is a monthly earnings amount that is set by the Social Security Administration (SSA) which adjusts approximately every 1-2 years based on inflation. For example, in 2024 the SGA amount is $1550/month for 1 non-blind individual and $2590/month for 1 blind individual. In order to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you must be determined to NOT be able to earn SGA or more in a given month or year, however you CAN receive SSDI and/or SSI AND work while earning UNDER, and NOT make on or over, SGA—if you do work while remaining in SSDI and/or SSI pay status, it is advisable to earn (at least) $200-300 UNDER SGA every month so as to avoid triggering an audit by the SSA.

For minors (Newborn to 17 year olds), it would be EXTREMELY rare (almost non-existent) for SGA to be considered since the vast majority of minors have no income earnings at the SGA level or more.

A Protective Filing Date (PFD) is when you first notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) of your intent to file a claim for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). A valid PFD can extend both SSDI and SSI backpay further back in time than just going by your most recent filing date or your Disability Alleged Onset Date (AOD).

• An SSDI PFD must show written communication of your intent to claim SSDI with the SSA. Your SSDI claim must be formally filed with the SSA within 6 months after your PFD.

• An SSI PFD must show written or verbal communication of your intent to claim SSI with the SSA. Your SSI claim must be formally filed with the SSA within 2 months after your PFD.

A Disability Alleged Onset Date (AOD) is the date that you claim you became ‘disabled’—you can change your Disability AOD at almost any time throughout the appeals process, including at your Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing. For all intents and purposes, particularly if you are 50+ years old, your ‘age’ on your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim is your age on your Disability AOD rather than your actual age that is based on your Date of Birth. Your medical records should reflect negative change(s) in your disabling condition(s) around the same time as (and after) your Disability AOD. Likewise, all work income that is Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) or more should demonstrably decrease on, or shortly after, your Disability AOD.

For successful SSDI claims only (not SSI), your backpay will usually retroactively go to your Disability AOD (with a 5-month waiting period)—SSI backpay, regardless of your Disability AOD, typically goes back to the month after your SSI claim’s most recent application date, or if applicable, the month after your Protective Filing Date (PFD).

A Closed Period of Disability is where you are approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for a fixed period of time that will definitively end on a certain date—this scenario usually occurs when your condition(s) shows continuous significant improvement in your medical records after a certain date or when you have earned work income that is Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) or more continuously after a certain date.

A Medical Source Statement (MSS) is a medical questionnaire, usually either physical or psychological, that is completed by your treating doctor or your therapist in support of your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim—an MSS can be one of the most valuable (or damaging) pieces of evidence in your medical file.

A Consultative Examination (CE) is an evaluation, usually either physical or psychological, that is completed by a doctor who is hired by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to examine you for your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claim. A CE report can be one of the most valuable (or damaging) pieces of evidence in your medical file and is most often necessary if your medical records show little or no recent treatment. Because CEs are paid for by the SSA for the purpose of creating evidence for your SSDI and/or SSI claim file, they are free of charge to you and will usually, as closely as possible, be conducted within a short distance from your home. While a completed CE report will always be included in your SSDI and/or SSI claim file for your Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing, the CE doctor will NEVER testify at your ALJ hearing.

A Medical Expert (ME) is a licensed health professional, usually a Medical Doctor or a Psychiatrist/Psychologist, who is hired by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to examine your medical records and to give their professional opinion on your condition(s), sometimes appearing as a professional witness at your Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing to give testimony that is solely based on reviewing your medical records without also personally examining you. ME appearances at ALJ hearings are EXTREMELY rare.

A Vocational Expert (VE) is an employment (jobs) expert who, like a Medical Expert (ME), is hired by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to appear at your Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing to give professional testimony about your capacity to work based on your employment history, your limitation(s) and from data found in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT). VEs are always present at an adult (18+ years old) ALJ hearing but never at a minor (Newborn to 17 years old) one because minors (usually) have no work history and no expected work capacity.