Hyannis SSDI Lawyers

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program, yet every claim moves through state-specific agencies and local hearing offices. For residents of Hyannis and the wider Barnstable County region, that means initial applications are routed through the Hyannis Social Security field office, Massachusetts Disability Determination Services makes medical determinations in Everett or Worcester, and appeals are heard in Boston, Lawrence, or Springfield. Deep knowledge of these local players and their procedural quirks is essential. Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers offers Boston-based experience paired with Cape Cod familiarity to guide you through each stage.

SSDI is reserved for workers who have accumulated enough “quarters of coverage” under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act and who are now unable to perform substantial gainful activity for at least twelve months (or are expected to die from their condition). Massachusetts does not add state-specific eligibility criteria, but statewide economic profiles and common industries influence the medical evidence you must gather, such as commercial fishing injuries or seasonal hospitality overuse disorders typical on the Cape.

Claimants submit the SSA-16 application online, by phone, or in person at the Hyannis field office, Suite 4, 100 Independence Drive, Hyannis, MA 02601 (phone 866-467-0440). The average wait for an initial decision in Massachusetts is 6.1 months, slightly faster than the national 7- to 8-month average. Only about 35–40 percent of Bay State applicants receive a medical approval at this first level, mirroring national data.

If denied, you have 60 days to request reconsideration. A different DDS examiner reviews the file; statewide, medical approvals at this stage hover near 13 percent. The next appeal is a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). For Hyannis residents, hearings are scheduled at:

• Boston OHO, Thomas P. O’Neill Jr. Federal Building, 10 Causeway St., Boston
• Lawrence OHO, 439 South Union St., Suite 301, Lawrence
• Springfield OHO, 1441 Main St., Suite 450, Springfield

In 2024, ALJs in Massachusetts approved roughly 54–58 percent of cases, the highest national rate in six years. Strategic preparation dramatically improves those odds.

Our firm has built its reputation on complex litigation. That experience translates into SSDI success because:

• Evidence gathering: We routinely subpoena medical records, vocational assessments, and expert testimony that meet SSA’s strict five-step sequential evaluation.
• Hearing advocacy: Familiarity with each OHO’s ALJs lets us tailor arguments to the legal standards each judge emphasizes, some focus on Step 3 listings, others on vocational expert cross-examination.
• No upfront fees: We work on contingency; our fee is capped by federal regulation and only paid if you win back benefits.

Hyannis applicants frequently present with:

• Orthopedic injuries from maritime or construction work
• Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses which are prevalent in coastal Massachusetts
• Chronic respiratory issues linked to seasonal hospitality work environments
• Mental-health conditions exacerbated by the seasonal economy’s boom-and-bust cycles

Properly documenting functional limitations, lifting restrictions for dockworkers, or cognitive impacts of neuroborreliosis often determines success at Step 5.

The maximum SSDI monthly benefit is $3,822 in 2024, but Massachusetts claimants average about $1,834. Benefits are retroactive to the later of 12 months before filing or five full months after disability onset, thanks to SSA’s statutory waiting period. A favorable decision also unlocks Medicare eligibility 24 months after your first benefit month.

Many Hyannis claimants also receive Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation. Federal law may offset SSDI if combined benefits exceed 80 percent of pre-injury earnings. Careful settlement structuring, allocating portions of a lump sum to future medical costs, can minimize or eliminate the offset. Our attorneys routinely draft settlement language accepted by both the Department of Industrial Accidents and SSA, protecting your full disability income stream.

A Hyannis pastry chef developed severe carpal-tunnel syndrome and degenerative cervical disc disease. After an initial denial, our firm obtained a hand surgeon’s RFC limiting fine manipulation to less than two hours per day and a vocational expert’s opinion that no transferable skills existed. At her Boston OHO hearing, the ALJ issued a fully favorable decision, awarding 18 months of back pay and ongoing benefits. This outcome illustrates the power of targeted medical evidence and expert testimony.

Yes, but earnings cannot exceed the substantial gainful activity threshold ($1,550 per month for non-blind claimants in 2025). Exceeding it may trigger a technical denial.

SSA conducts Continuing Disability Reviews every three to seven years. Benefits continue unless your medical condition improves enough for substantial work or you reach full retirement age.

SSDI is independent of MassHealth and other state programs, but adjustments to need-based benefits like SNAP may occur. We coordinate with local social-service agencies to preserve all available aid.

SSDI can provide financial stability, Medicare access, and peace of mind when injury or illness prevents work. Yet the path from initial application to final approval is complex, evidence-driven, and, for most claimants, lengthy. By partnering with Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers, Hyannis residents gain advocates who combine Boston-tested litigation skills with Cape-specific insight. Schedule a free consultation today to protect the benefits you have earned and deserve.