DISABILITY SURVIVAL GUIDE: NORTH ALABAMA EDITION

Getting approved for Social Security disability benefits in Alabama or Tennessee is very difficult with the denial rate on new claims hovering around 78 percent. Which SSDI claims are especially difficult to get approved?  Some include:   Mental Health Conditions. Mental illness stands as one of the most prevalent causes of disability, yet its impact is often underestimated or misunderstood. ... Chronic Pain Disorders. ... Fibromyalgia. ... Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. ... Autoimmune Disorders. ......Anything you can't prove by a laboratory test, X-ray or MRI.  ("Invisible diseases).   A claimant requires excellent objective medical records to be approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.  Social Security wants the definite diagnosis of your severe medical or mental impairments.  Having laboratory test or imaging studies showing the severity of your condition is usually required. There are conditions that defy objective evidence....

The current government shutdown is about to become the longest one in the nation's history.  History's longest shutdown was in December 2024 - January 2025 which lasted for 35 days. The current shutdown has been going on since October 1, for 28 days now.  If not concluded within a week, this will become the longest government shutdown in history.  Everyone is hurting. And I really don't care who's at fault. I'm tired of the blame game.  I think most Americans are, too. I like what the American Federation of Government  Employees (AFGE) has said:  "Reopen the government immediately under a clean continuing resolution that allows continued debate on larger issues.  Ensure back pay for every single employee who has served or been forced to stay home through no fault of their own.  Work together on a bipartisan basis to address important policy matters like addressing rising costs and fixing the broken appropriations process." (End of the AFGE quo...

October 24, 2025:  Today, Social Security announced a 2.8% benefit increase for 2026. This will increase the average monthly Social Security benefit for disability beneficiaries from $1,586 to $1,630. The COLA will take effect beginning in January 2026. During the third week of October each year the Social Security Administration announces a Cost of Living (COLA) increase that will take effect the following January.  

(866) 593-0665 is the number for the local Huntsville Social Security office. (866) 593-0665 reaches the local Huntsville field office directly. This number is not widely published. When you search for Huntsville Social Security, you are often sent to the national toll free number (800) 722-1213.  This does NOT ring at the Huntsville Social Security office. By calling locally at (866) 593-0665 you will be answered by an automated system (recording).  You may need to hold for several minutes to be connected to a live agent; however, the local call has a much shorter hold time than the national 800 number. Decatur, AL Social Security phone:  (888) 289-9185 For help with Social Security disability claims, denied claims, appeals or hearings call The Forsythe Firm in Huntsville for a free consultation. (256) 799-0297 

  WHAT NOT TO SAY TO SOCIAL SECURITY   So, you’re trying for Social Security disability benefits? Here are things you can write or say that will nearly always get you rejected : 1.      I stopped working due to any reason besides disability.   Some common mistakes would include:   getting laid off, my employer’s business closed, I lost my transportation, or I stayed home with a sick family member.   None of these are disabilities and Social Security will not pay a benefit for them.   When you say one of these, your case has died.    2.    My employer fired me.   The question is, why did you get fired? If you were fired for absenteeism, doing sloppy work or arguing with the boss, it is not helpful to a disability case.   However, if you were fired due to poor health and difficulty performing your job duties, it can support your case for disability.   If you frequent absences were due to sickness or me...

The chance of winning a Social Security Disability (SSD) appeal varies significantly by stage, with approval rates being very low at the reconsideration (around 15%) and Appeals Council (about 1% for direct approval) stages, but the odds improve at the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing level (around 45-50%) .     Having legal representation can nearly triple your chances of winning at the ALJ level, and documenting functional limitations thoroughly is crucial for success at all stages.   Here are the 3 Levels of Appeal within the Social Security Administration "Reconsideration" - the first level of appeal.  Your claim goes back to the state agency that denied it for review by a different evaluator.  The odds of approval here are no more than 10 percent, very poor.  This is a required appeal before other action may be taken. Hearing by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).  Judges hold hearings on cases denied at the "reconsideration" level....