DISABILITY SURVIVAL GUIDE: NORTH ALABAMA EDITION

By Charles W. Forsythe (The Forsythe Firm), Huntsville, AL Having practiced almost 30 years in the field of Social Security disability (SSDI),  I've learned a few things about the rules, the process and the disappointments.  I'm answering many common questions about this subject.  However, this post is for general information, not legal advice.  Never act upon an internet post, including this one, without speaking to your own legal professional.  This post does not take the place of your lawyer. QUESTION # 1.  How long does it take to get disability benefits in Alabama? Each case is different, so there is no set time frame. But the average waiting time to get the initial decision on a disability application in Alabama is 230 days.   QUESTION # 2:  What percentage of SSDI claims get approved in the first step?   Social Security approves only about 23 percent of claims at the application level. Denials are very common, even if you mee...