Brockton Social Security Disability Lawyers

When a serious injury or medical condition keeps you from working, the financial and emotional strain can feel overwhelming. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits exist to provide a lifeline, but the qualifying process is famously complex. At Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers, our Brockton personal injury team has spent decades helping Brockton residents navigate the Social Security maze and secure the benefits they deserve. The guide below explains the essentials of SSDI law in Massachusetts, the advantages of hiring an experienced SSDI attorney in Brockton, and how our firm can stand beside you every step of the way.

SSDI is a federal insurance program funded by payroll taxes under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). To qualify, an applicant must prove both insured status (enough recent work credits) and disability (an impairment severe enough to prevent substantial gainful activity for at least 12 months or expected to result in death). Massachusetts residents apply through their local field office or online, but every claim is adjudicated under uniform federal rules.

• Work Credits. In 2025, one credit is earned for each $1,730 in wages, up to four credits per year. Most adult applicants aged 31–60 need at least 20 credits earned in the 10 years immediately before disability onset. Younger workers may qualify with fewer credits under special rules.
• Definition of Disability. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a strict five-step sequential evaluation that asks: Are you working above the substantial gainful activity (SGA) threshold? Do you have a severe impairment? Does it meet or equal a Listing? If not, can you perform past work? If not, can you adjust to other work in the national economy? The SGA level for non-blind individuals in 2025 is $1,590 per month; earning above this amount generally disqualifies a claimant.
• Waiting Period and Retroactive Benefits. SSDI benefits start after a five-month waiting period measured from the established onset date; back pay may be awarded for up to 12 months before the application date if evidence shows earlier disability.

Although you can file independently, statistics confirm that claimants represented by attorneys have significantly higher approval rates. An attorney who focuses on SSDI law, like the team at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers, brings crucial advantages:

• Comprehensive Case Development. Obtaining and organizing medical records, diagnostic imaging, lab results, and specialist opinions so they speak directly to SSA’s criteria. Preparing detailed residual functional capacity (RFC) statements from your treating providers to demonstrate specific work limitations.
• Deadline Management and Compliance. Tracking stringent SSA filing and appeal deadlines (60 days to appeal a denial) so you never lose rights by missing a date. Ensuring every required form—Adult Disability Report, Work History Report, Function Report—is accurate and complete.
• Strategic Argumentation. Framing your impairments in the language of SSA Listings and vocational rules. Countering adverse consultative examinations or vocational expert testimony at a hearing.
• Local Knowledge. I am familiar with the Brockton Social Security field office on Main Street, the Boston Office of Hearings Operations (OHO), where Brockton cases are heard, and the working preferences of local disability examiners and administrative law judges (ALJs).
• No Up-Front Fees. Attorney fees are contingency-based and capped by federal regulation (currently 25% of past-due benefits, not to exceed $7,200 as of November 2024). If you do not win, you pay no fee.

Roughly two-thirds of initial SSDI applications nationwide are denied. Understanding why can help you and your attorney proactively address weaknesses:

• Insufficient Medical Evidence. Gaps in treatment records or a lack of objective findings to corroborate subjective complaints.
• Earning Above SGA. Attempting part-time work that exceeds the monthly SGA limit, even briefly.
• Non-Severe Impairments. Conditions that impose some limitations but do not significantly restrict basic work activities for at least 12 continuous months.
• Failure to Cooperate. Missing consultative exams, not returning questionnaires, or ignoring SSA deadlines.
• Alcohol or Drug Involvement. If substance use is deemed a contributing factor material to disability, the claim will be denied.

Filing for SSDI typically unfolds in stages, each stage offering an opportunity (and a deadline) to strengthen your case:

• Initial Application (3–6 months). Submit your application online, by phone, or in person at the Brockton SSA office. A disability examiner and medical consultant review your file.
• Reconsideration (2–4 months). If denied, you have 60 days to request reconsideration. A different examiner reevaluates the evidence, plus any new material.
• ALJ Hearing (12–18 months). Still denied? Request a hearing. Your file goes to the Boston OHO. You and your attorney present testimony, cross-examine vocational or medical experts, and submit written briefs.
• Appeals Council (6–12 months). The Council in Falls Church, VA, reviews alleged legal errors. It may affirm, remand, or reverse.
• Federal District Court (Variable). The final judicial review will be conducted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers maintains close communication throughout these stages, gathers updated medical records, and develops evidence to fill gaps identified in prior denials.

Winning on appeal often hinges on supplementing the record and dismantling the rationale used to deny benefits. Our firm employs the following tactics:

• Targeted Medical Opinions. We ask treating physicians to draft narrative reports explaining how your symptoms restrict functional capacity in terms SSA recognizes, such as standing/walking limitations, off-task percentages, and absenteeism.
• Vocational Analyses. Certified vocational experts can perform transferable skills analyses that demonstrate why no jobs exist that you could reasonably perform, given your age, education, and RFC.
• Onset Date Strategy. We reassess the alleged onset date to maximize retroactive benefits without compromising credibility.
• Hearing Preparation. Before the ALJ hearing, we conduct mock testimony sessions so you feel confident discussing your daily limitations. We craft closing arguments referencing relevant case law, HALLEX provisions, and Medical-Vocational Grid rules.

Our Brockton-centered SSDI representation extends beyond filing paperwork:

• Holistic Client Care. We coordinate with your healthcare providers to ensure consistent treatment, including referrals to specialists who can document objective findings.. Our staff helps clients apply for needs-based programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Massachusetts Rental Assistance while waiting for a decision.
• Integrated Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation Insight. Many SSDI claimants became disabled due to workplace accidents or third-party negligence. Our firm’s injury and workers’ compensation departments work in tandem to preserve your rights across multiple systems, ensuring one claim does not inadvertently sabotage another (e.g., offset rules between workers’ comp and SSDI).
• Local Community Ties. Since 1991, we have been part of Plymouth County’s legal community, frequently collaborating with Brockton’s social service agencies, medical centers like Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital, and vocational rehabilitation programs.
• Continuous Education and Cutting-Edge Technology. Our attorneys engage in national SSDI seminars and leverage case-management software to track deadlines, flag missing records, and predict case outcomes based on historical data.

If an injury or illness has forced you out of the workforce, you do not have to face the Social Security Administration alone. Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers offers Brockton residents compassionate guidance backed by decades of focused SSDI experience.

• Free, No-Obligation Consultation. We review your medical history, work record, and prior SSA correspondence to assess potential eligibility.
• Personalized Strategy. Every medical condition and vocational background is unique. We craft a claim roadmap tailored to your circumstances, including an evidence-gathering checklist and filing timeline.
• Transparent Communication. From your first call through the final decision, you receive regular status updates, plain-language explanations of legal terminology, and direct attorney access.
• Local Convenience. Our Brockton meeting location and virtual conferencing options ensure you never have to travel far when mobility is limited.

SSDI benefits can provide the monthly income and Medicare coverage you need to focus on healing. Our mission is to remove the red tape and fight for the benefits you have earned through years of hard work. Call Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers at (617) 777-7777 or complete our online form to schedule your free consultation. Let us be your voice before the Social Security Administration so you can concentrate on what matters most, your health and your family.