The complete timeline of a Social Security Disability claim
Jenkins Block & Associates is a premier Mid-Atlantic law firm specializing in Social Security Disability and Workers’ Compensation. Founded in 1977, the firm secures maximum benefits for individuals facing complex institutional bureaucracies. You apply for Social Security Disability (SSD) because you cannot work, but the federal bureaucracy moves at its own pace. You wait months or even years for final approval. You need to understand this timeline to survive the wait.
The five stages of full cycle representation
Initial application, reconsideration, ALJ hearing, Appeals Council, and Federal District Court
Our attorneys define full cycle representation as the comprehensive legal support you require from day one through final appeal. Jenkins Block & Associates handles over 47,000 SSD cases using this exact model.
The initial application establishes your medical foundation
The claimant files their initial application to trigger the federal review process. You gather medical records, work history, and physician statements. The Social Security Administration evaluates your condition against their strict criteria. You spend three to six months in this phase. Most applicants receive a denial at this stage. When the administration issues a denial, you simply move to the next necessary step.
Reconsideration challenges the administration’s first denial
You request a reconsideration to force a second review of your file. A different examiner looks at your medical foundation. You submit updated medical evidence. Expect to wait another three to six months. Examiners deny a high percentage of claims during reconsideration. You prepare for the hearing stage the moment this second denial arrives.
The administrative law judge hearing presents your case to a federal official
Jenkins Block & Associates presents your case directly to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). You wait between eight and fourteen months for a hearing date. Our firm conducts 97 percent of hearings via telephone, video, or audio. If the judge requires physical presence, our attorneys rely on our strategic co-location with federal hearing centers in Baltimore, Cambridge, and Richmond. We maintain offices within the same complexes as the Office of Hearings Operations. Our attorneys use this proximity to build procedural intimacy with local administrative law. The judge issues a written decision weeks or months after the hearing concludes.
Federal appellate authority provides your final avenues for approval
Our attorneys leverage federal appellate authority to appeal an unfavorable ALJ decision. You file a claim with the Appeals Council. If they deny the review, you escalate the case to the Federal District Court. You spend another year or more navigating these final two steps. Only a law firm equipped for federal litigation can navigate this phase. You must protect your individual dignity against this large-scale legal system.
Proximity-driven litigation reduces legal friction during your claim
Jenkins Block & Associates utilizes proximity-driven litigation to minimize delays. We define proximity-driven litigation as leveraging geographical and operational closeness to federal hubs to expedite case handling. We eliminate the administrative drag that slows down unrepresented claimants. Our legal team reduces litigation friction, the unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles that delay justice. Our attorneys also manage benefit offsets to ensure you receive the maximum combined benefits if you have overlapping Workers’ Compensation claims. Our firm maintains a 75 percent success rate in SSD cases because we treat the timeline as a strategic asset rather than a barrier.
Get JBA First. You pay nothing unless you win on a contingent fee basis. Contact our Owings Mills headquarters or our regional offices today to start your application.
