If you can no longer work and Social Security said no, you are not out of options. These verified Des Moines firms handle SSDI, SSI, and work-injury disability claims, most on contingency, so you pay nothing unless you win.
Updated February 24, 202612 min readEditorially independent
Losing the ability to work is frightening, and the Social Security system does not make it easier. Most first-time disability claims in Iowa are denied, and the appeal can stretch past a year. A good Des Moines disability lawyer changes those odds: they gather the medical proof, meet every deadline, and stand with you at the hearing where most claims are actually won.
Here is the part that surprises people: a Social Security disability lawyer costs you nothing up front, and the fee is capped by federal law. An attorney can charge no more than 25% of your back pay or $7,200, whichever is less, and only if you win. The money comes out of past-due benefits, so you never write a check from your own pocket. That is the same deal at every honest firm, which means you can choose on experience and responsiveness, not price.
Des Moines has a solid disability bar, and several of the firms below reach disability work from the workers' compensation side, which is where many Iowa claims begin. That is normal and often an advantage, because a single firm can handle both a work-injury claim and the Social Security claim that follows. One practical local note: Des Moines hosts a Social Security hearing office that serves central Iowa, and hearings are now frequently held by phone or video, so you often will not have to travel far. Every firm here is confirmed through at least two independent sources, including Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, FindLaw, Martindale-Hubbell, or its own verified Des Moines-area practice.
How we picked these 8: We cross-referenced legal directories (Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, FindLaw, Martindale-Hubbell), public review profiles, and each firm's own published practice pages. Every entry below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable practice serving Des Moines disability claimants. Des Moines is a mid-sized market, so this is a focused list of eight real firms rather than a padded ten. We take no payment for placement. More on our methodology →
1
Schott Mauss & Associates, PLLC
Des Moines, IAMax J. SchottSSDI / workers' comp / VA
Practice focus: Social Security disability, workers' compensation, and veterans benefits, with disability law as a core focus of the firm.
Max Schott founded this firm in 1997 around disability law, and today Schott Mauss & Associates is one of the better-known disability and workers' compensation practices in central Iowa. The attorneys carry more than a century of combined experience, and the firm says it has helped tens of thousands of Iowans and recovered hundreds of millions in benefits over the years.
The firm guides clients through the initial application and every stage of the appeal, and there are no legal fees unless you win. For a Des Moines claimant who wants an established, disability-focused local firm, this is a natural starting point.
Why they made the list: A long-established Des Moines disability and workers' comp firm with deep bench experience and a no-fee-unless-you-win contingency on SSDI claims.
Fee structure
Contingency on SSDI, capped by federal law at 25% of back pay or $7,200, whichever is less. No fee unless you win.
Practice focus: Workers' compensation and Social Security disability, often handled together when a workplace injury leads to a disability claim.
Hedberg & Boulton works out of the Court Avenue district downtown and has built a strong reputation as a defender of injured Iowa workers. The firm handles Social Security disability alongside workers' compensation, which is a practical pairing: many disability claims grow out of a serious on-the-job injury, and one firm can carry both pieces. Mark T. Hedberg leads the practice.
The firm helps with the initial SSDI application and the appeals process, whether your disability is work-related or not. It offers a free initial consultation and works disability claims on contingency.
Why they made the list: A downtown Des Moines firm that handles workers' comp and Social Security disability together, ideal when a workplace injury underlies the disability claim.
Fee structure
Contingency on SSDI (25% of back pay or $7,200, whichever is less); no upfront fee.
500 East Court Ave, Ste 200, Des Moines(515) 267-0110SSDI focus, since 1996
Practice focus: Social Security disability claims and appeals for clients in Des Moines and across Iowa.
Timothy N. Tripp has represented disabled Iowans since 1996, with a practice centered on Social Security disability. His East Court Avenue office takes claims from the first application through reconsideration and the hearing before an administrative law judge. Nearly three decades of focused SSDI work means he knows the local hearing process and the medical-vocational rules that decide these cases.
Tripp's firm is listed in FindLaw, Justia, and Lawyers.com directories, and it works on the federal contingency, so there is no fee unless your claim succeeds.
Why they made the list: A focused Social Security disability practice with nearly 30 years of Des Moines hearing experience and a single-area concentration.
Fee structure
Contingency only, at the federal cap (25% of back pay or $7,200, whichever is less).
West Des Moines, IAWorkers' comp & disabilityLitigation experience
Practice focus: Workers' compensation, Social Security disability, long-term disability, and personal injury for injured and disabled Iowans.
Neifert, Byrne & Ozga concentrates on the rights of injured workers, and that work runs straight into disability claims. The West Des Moines firm litigates workers' compensation, Social Security disability, long-term disability, and personal injury matters, so it can handle a claim that crosses more than one of those systems at once.
If your disability started with a workplace injury, or if you have both a workers' comp case and an SSDI claim, a firm that handles the overlap can keep the two from working against each other. Confirm at intake which benefits they will pursue for you.
Why they made the list: A workers'-rights firm that litigates Social Security, long-term, and work-injury disability claims together, useful when your case spans more than one system.
Fee structure
Contingency; SSDI representation follows the federal cap (25% of back pay or $7,200, whichever is less).
Practice focus: Social Security disability and SSI claims, helping clients navigate the medical-vocational rules the SSA uses to decide disability.
Mueller, Schmidt, Mulholland & Cooling brings more than 56 years of combined legal experience to Social Security disability work and serves claimants in Iowa and neighboring Nebraska. The firm focuses on the complex medical-vocational rules that determine whether the SSA finds you disabled, and clients describe attorney Rick Schmidt as clear, precise, and easy to ask questions.
For a Des Moines-area claimant who wants a firm with a regional footprint and a long track record in the Social Security system, this practice is worth a call. Confirm how your Iowa case will be staffed.
Why they made the list: A regional Social Security disability firm with over 56 years of combined experience and strong client reviews for clear communication.
Fee structure
Contingency only, at the federal cap (25% of back pay or $7,200, whichever is less).
Practice focus: Social Security disability claims for clients across Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, and eastern and central Iowa.
The Beecher Law Firm is one of Iowa's older practices, and attorney Hugh Field, who joined in 1969, built a long career around Social Security disability law. The firm helps clients throughout Des Moines and much of Iowa secure benefits, from the initial application through the appeals process.
Its reach across central and eastern Iowa, paired with decades of SSDI experience, makes it a credible option for a Des Moines claimant who wants a firm with deep institutional knowledge of the Iowa hearing offices.
Why they made the list: A long-established Iowa firm with decades of dedicated Social Security disability experience and broad coverage across the state.
Fee structure
Contingency only, at the federal cap (25% of back pay or $7,200, whichever is less).
Serves Des Moines, IASSDI / SSI / VAHigh-volume practice
Practice focus: A disability-only firm representing SSDI, SSI, and veterans-benefits claimants, including those serving the Des Moines area.
Midwest Disability is a regional firm built specifically around disability benefits, handling Social Security, SSI, and veterans claims for clients across the Upper Midwest, including Des Moines. A single-focus, high-volume disability practice means a steady stream of hearings and a process tuned for these claims.
The trade-off with a regional practice is that it is not a downtown Des Moines storefront, so ask how your Iowa case will be staffed and who will appear at your hearing.
Why they made the list: A disability-only regional firm with high SSDI hearing volume and a veterans-benefits practice, serving Des Moines claimants.
Fee structure
Contingency only, at the federal cap (25% of back pay or $7,200, whichever is less).
Practice focus: A dedicated Social Security disability and SSI practice representing claimants throughout Iowa, including Des Moines and West Des Moines.
Social Security Law Group is a disability-focused practice that represents SSDI and SSI claimants across Iowa, Des Moines and West Des Moines included. The firm handles claims from application through the hearing stage and concentrates solely on Social Security disability, which keeps its attorneys current on the rules and the hearing process.
As with the other multi-state practices on this list, ask who will prepare your file and represent you at your Iowa hearing, so you know your point of contact from the start.
Why they made the list: A Social Security-only practice serving Iowa claimants from application through hearing, with a single-area focus.
Fee structure
Contingency only, at the federal cap (25% of back pay or $7,200, whichever is less).
Tell us what happened, and we'll connect you with one of these Des Moines disability attorneys for a free, no-obligation consultation.
How to choose between them in Des Moines
Match the firm to your kind of claim. SSDI and SSI go through Social Security; a work injury may also support a workers' compensation claim. Several Des Moines firms handle both, which helps when your case spans more than one system. Ask directly at intake which benefits they will pursue.
Favor firms that work the appeal. Most Iowa claims are denied at first and won at the hearing. A firm that regularly appears before administrative law judges, prepares medical evidence, and cross-examines vocational experts is worth far more than one that only files paperwork.
The fee is fixed, so judge on service. Every SSDI lawyer charges the same federal-capped contingency, 25% of back pay up to $7,200. Since price is identical, choose on experience, communication, and whether they return your calls.
Ask whether a work injury is involved. If your disability started on the job, a firm that handles both workers' compensation and Social Security can coordinate the two so they do not undercut each other. That coordination is worth asking about up front.
Get an honest read early. A candid lawyer will tell you whether your conditions and work history actually support a claim before you invest a year. You want that straight answer, not a sales pitch.
Judge how they treat you. Disability cases are personal and long. Choose a firm that listens, explains each step, and treats you as a person rather than a case number.
What a disability lawyer typically costs in Des Moines
This is the rare area of law where the fee is set by the federal government, not the firm. Here is how the money actually works:
Free consultation: Nearly every disability firm reviews your situation at no charge. Bring your denial letters and a list of your conditions and doctors.
Contingency, capped by law: For SSDI and SSI, the attorney fee is 25% of your past-due benefits or $7,200, whichever is less. Not a penny more, no matter how hard the case.
Paid only if you win: No recovery, no fee. The fee is withheld by Social Security from your back pay and paid to the lawyer directly, so you never send a bill yourself.
Small case costs: You may owe modest out-of-pocket costs, like charges for copies of medical records, usually well under a few hundred dollars. Ask the firm to spell these out in writing.
Long-term and VA claims differ: Private long-term disability (ERISA) and VA benefits run on their own fee rules. Confirm the structure at intake with a firm that handles that specific type of claim.
The real cost is delay: Missing the 60-day deadline to appeal a denial can sink an otherwise winnable claim. The risk here is the calendar, not the legal fee.
Be wary of anyone who asks for money up front to handle a Social Security disability claim, or who promises a specific approval. No honest disability lawyer does either.
How long an Iowa disability claim takes
Every case is different, but a typical Des Moines Social Security claim moves through these stages:
Initial application: A few weeks to file, then roughly three to six months for a decision. Most first claims are denied, which is normal, not a verdict on your case.
Reconsideration: If denied, you generally have 60 days to ask for reconsideration. This review takes a few more months and is often denied again.
Hearing request: After a second denial, you request a hearing before an administrative law judge. Because of the backlog, the wait for a hearing can be a year or more.
The hearing: Often held by phone or video for Des Moines claimants, and the local hearing office serves central Iowa, so you usually will not travel far. Your lawyer presents medical evidence and questions the vocational expert. This stage is where many claims are won.
Decision: A written decision usually arrives within a few weeks to a couple of months after the hearing.
Back pay: If approved, Social Security pays past-due benefits from your established onset date, and the attorney fee is withheld from that amount.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a disability lawyer in Des Moines
Upfront fees. Social Security disability work is contingency only. If a firm asks for money before you win, walk away.
Guaranteed approvals. No one can promise Social Security will approve you. A guarantee is a sales tactic, not a legal opinion.
The vanishing lawyer. You meet someone at intake, then a name you never hear again handles the file. Ask in writing who will prepare your case and appear at your hearing.
No interest in your records. Your medical evidence is the case. A firm that does not ask detailed questions about your conditions, doctors, and treatment is not doing the work.
Vague answers about deadlines. A good firm knows your appeal deadline cold and protects it. Dodging that question is a warning sign.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most of the firms on this list offer a free initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
Who, specifically, will handle my claim and appear at my hearing? Get a name, not just the firm.
How many Social Security disability hearings have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
Is my claim SSDI, SSI, or both, and how does that change my case? A good lawyer can tell you quickly.
What is my appeal deadline, and is it at risk right now? This is the single most important date in your case.
What medical evidence is my claim missing? The honest answer tells you whether they have read your file.
What is the realistic range of outcomes? A good lawyer gives a range; a weak one promises approval.
How long do you expect this to take? An honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
What small costs will I owe, and when? Records and copies add up; ask now.
How often will I hear from you? Set the communication cadence up front.
What can I do to help my own case? The best lawyers will give you homework.
Talk to a vetted disability attorney in Des Moines
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about disability lawyers in Des Moines
Is hiring a disability lawyer in Des Moines worth the cost?
For most people, yes. Social Security disability lawyers work on contingency and cannot charge more than 25% of your back pay, capped at $7,200, and you pay nothing if you lose. Represented claimants are statistically more likely to win at a hearing. The fee comes out of past-due benefits, so you never write a check up front.
What is the difference between SSDI and SSI?
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is for people who worked and paid into Social Security long enough to be insured. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is need-based for people with very limited income and resources. Many Des Moines claimants qualify for one, and some for both. A lawyer can tell you which fits your situation.
How much does an SSDI lawyer in Des Moines cost?
By federal law the fee is contingency only: 25% of your back pay or $7,200, whichever is less. There is no hourly bill and no upfront charge. You may owe small case costs, like fees for medical records, but the attorney fee itself comes straight out of your past-due benefits after you win.
How long does an Iowa disability claim take?
Plan for the long haul. An initial decision often takes three to six months. Most first claims are denied, and the appeal to a hearing before an administrative law judge can add a year or more. Start to finish, a contested Iowa claim commonly runs one to two years, which is why filing early and appealing on time matters so much.
Most claims get denied at first. Should I just give up?
No. Denial of the first application is normal, not the end. The hearing stage, in front of an administrative law judge, is where many claims are actually approved, especially with a lawyer who prepares your medical evidence and cross-examines the vocational expert. The biggest mistake is missing the 60-day appeal deadline after a denial.
Can I claim both workers' compensation and Social Security disability?
Sometimes, yes, but the two interact. If a workplace injury left you unable to work, you may have an Iowa workers' compensation claim and an SSDI claim at the same time, and benefits from one can affect the other. A firm that handles both can coordinate them so you do not lose money to an offset.
Do I have to travel for my disability hearing in Des Moines?
Often not. Des Moines has a Social Security hearing office serving central Iowa, and many hearings are now held by phone or video. For most claimants that means little or no travel. Your lawyer will tell you the format once your hearing is scheduled.
What should I bring to my first disability consultation?
A list of your medical conditions and treating doctors, any denial letters from Social Security with their dates, your work history, and copies of medical records if you have them. The denial dates matter most, because they set your appeal deadline. The more complete your record, the faster a lawyer can size up your claim.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many disability hearings have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.
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