SSDI and SSI claims, hearings, and appeals in metro Detroit.
Around 65 percent of initial Social Security disability claims are denied at first review, and a higher share at reconsideration. The path to benefits in Detroit usually runs through the Oak Park or Mt. Clemens hearing offices and, when needed, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The 10 Detroit firms below handle SSDI and SSI claims from initial application through federal court appeal.
Social Security disability law is one of the most regulated practice areas in the country. Attorney fees are capped by federal statute at 25 percent of past-due benefits, currently maxed at $9,200 per claim (as of late 2024 fee cap adjustments). You do not pay an SSDI lawyer up front; the lawyer is only paid if you win, and only out of the back-benefit award the Social Security Administration cuts at approval. That fee structure is fixed by the Social Security Act and does not vary between firms.
What does vary is experience. A Detroit SSDI lawyer who has handled 1,500 ALJ hearings at the Oak Park or Mt. Clemens hearing offices knows the local Administrative Law Judges, the vocational experts they call, and the medical opinion patterns they credit. The firms below are filtered by volume of Michigan SSDI work, recognition by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers, and visible track record in Detroit-area ALJ hearings.
How we picked these 10: We cross-checked published verdicts, Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers selections, Avvo and Justia ratings, peer reviews, and bar association recognition. Firms that appeared consistently across at least two independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, long-term disability insurance
Detroit’s largest dedicated Social Security disability firm. Founded in 1964 and the top-performing Michigan SSDI firm by total benefits won, per published SSA data. Has helped more than 100,000 people obtain benefits. No attorney fee until you win.
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, ALJ hearings, federal court appeals
Michigan’s premier disability rights firm since 1958. Thousands of clients represented across the state. No fee until you win, federal contingency cap. Phone: 800-LAW-MICH.
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, initial applications, reconsideration, ALJ hearings
Statewide Michigan SSDI practice with attorneys extensively trained in physical and psychological disability claims. Handles initial applications, reconsiderations, and hearings.
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, VA disability, veterans benefits
Troy-based practice focused exclusively on SSDI and veterans’ disability. Erika Riggs (founding partner) received Crain’s Detroit Business Notable Women Lawyers (2017), Avvo Client’s Choice (4x), and Rising Star by Super Lawyers (2018). Phone: 800-838-1100.
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, elder law, guardianship
Boutique serving disabled, elderly, and family clients in metro Detroit. Provides full SSDI/SSI representation from application through hearing and appeal. Strong fit for clients who also need guardianship or elder-law planning.
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, initial claims, ALJ hearings, federal court appeals
Long-running solo practice handling SSDI and SSI for Detroit residents. Personal representation from a single experienced attorney through the entire process. Useful when continuity matters and you want the same lawyer at every stage.
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, personal injury, employment
Multi-practice Southfield firm with a dedicated SSDI lane. Useful when disability overlaps with a personal injury or wrongful-termination claim — staff handles both files in coordination.
Practice focus: SSDI, long-term disability denials
National firm with Michigan attorneys handling SSDI claims and LTD denials. High intake volume; useful for straightforward applications and reconsiderations.
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, ALJ hearings
36+ years of Detroit-area SSDI practice. Personal one-attorney representation through every stage. Strong fit for clients who want a single voice on the file.
Practice focus: SSDI, SSI, employment law, ADA
Troy-based disability and employment boutique. Useful when disability and employment claims overlap (ADA accommodation disputes, FMLA, wrongful termination tied to disability).
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Request Free Consultation →Federal law sets the fees for Social Security disability representation. Attorneys may receive 25 percent of your past-due benefits, capped at $9,200 (as of the late-2024 SSA adjustment). The fee comes only out of past-due benefits at approval; you pay nothing if you lose. Detroit firms do not negotiate this fee — it is fixed by federal regulation under 42 U.S.C. § 406.
Out-of-pocket costs are minimal. Some firms charge a small upfront expense deposit ($100 to $500) to cover medical-record retrieval and consultative examinations. Most absorb these costs and recover them at the back end. Federal district court appeals (if your case reaches that stage) can involve an additional EAJA fee award paid by the government, separate from the 25 percent cap.
Initial application: 3 to 5 months for SSA to issue a decision. About 35 percent of initial applications are approved. Detroit Disability Determination Services handles Michigan medical reviews.
Reconsideration: 3 to 5 months. Slightly higher approval rate than initial review, but still under 15 percent. Many claimants skip this and go straight to hearing — not allowed in Michigan, which is a mandatory-reconsideration state.
ALJ hearing: 12 to 18 months wait from request to hearing date at the Oak Park or Mt. Clemens hearing office. Approval rate at hearing roughly 50 to 60 percent with representation.
Appeals Council and federal court: Appeals Council review takes 12 to 24 months. Federal court appeals in E.D. Michigan typically take 8 to 14 months from filing to decision. A favorable federal court decision usually results in remand to the ALJ for a new hearing.
Match the firm to where you are in the process. For an initial application, any firm on this list will do solid work; the application is largely paperwork-driven. For a denied claim heading to reconsideration or ALJ hearing, you want a firm with high volume in front of the Oak Park or Mt. Clemens ALJs — Levine Benjamin, Gordon & Pont, and Disability Attorneys of Michigan are the largest. For complex cases involving mental health, autoimmune conditions, or substance use issues, look at Disability Law Group or one of the smaller boutiques where the partner runs the file personally.
Two questions to ask. First, who from your office will appear at my ALJ hearing — an attorney, a non-attorney representative, or a paralegal? Federal law allows non-attorney reps in Social Security hearings, and many large firms use them. That is not wrong, but you should know. Second, what is the firm’s win rate at hearing for cases like mine? A serious firm will share the number.
Promises a specific outcome at intake. Outcomes in disability cases vary enormously by facts, judge, and evidence. Detroit cases range from nothing on a weak file to substantial recoveries on a strong one. A firm that quotes a number at intake is selling.
Vague fee terms. The engagement letter should specify hourly rate vs. contingency vs. flat fee, what costs are advanced vs. billed, fee-shifting handling where applicable, and what happens to costs if you lose. “We’ll figure it out” is not an answer.
No conversation about realistic timing. A competent Detroit lawyer tells you in the first call how long a matter like yours usually takes and what could shorten or lengthen it. If you cannot get a straight answer on timing, ask a different firm.
Pressure to sign before reviewing the documents. If a firm pushes you to retain before you have reviewed the engagement letter or asked questions about the strategy, walk away. The good firms on this list are not in a rush.
No clear point of contact. You should know on day one who is handling your file, who their backup is, and how to reach them. Anything else creates problems later.
Most firms on this list offer a free initial call. Use it. Bring this list and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign anything.
Detroit-area hearing offices. Most metro Detroit SSDI cases are heard at the SSA Office of Hearings Operations in Oak Park or Mt. Clemens. Hearings are now routinely held by video or telephone, but in-person hearings remain available on request. Wait times have come down post-pandemic but still run 12 to 18 months.
Michigan Disability Determination Services. DDS in Lansing handles medical reviews for Michigan applicants. DDS uses contracted physicians and psychologists to develop the medical record and apply SSA listings.
Eastern District of Michigan. Federal court appeals after Appeals Council denial are filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Most Detroit SSDI lawyers handle district court appeals themselves or refer them to a specialist.
Concurrent claims. Detroit-area SSDI clients often have related claims: long-term disability insurance through their employer (which usually requires SSDI offset), workers’ comp, Michigan no-fault auto if disabling injury was from a car accident, or VA disability for veterans. A good Detroit disability lawyer flags interactions between these systems at intake.
Federal law caps the fee at 25 percent of your past-due benefits, with a maximum of $9,200. You pay nothing if you lose. This fee is set by federal regulation and does not vary between firms.
Initial application: 3 to 5 months. Reconsideration (required in Michigan): 3 to 5 months. ALJ hearing: 12 to 18 months wait from request. Total from initial application to approval through hearing typically runs 18 to 30 months.
SSDI is for workers with enough Social Security work credits who can no longer work due to a medical condition expected to last 12 months or end in death. SSI is needs-based and does not require work credits. Many disabled Detroit residents qualify for both.
Not strictly required. But about 65 percent of initial applications are denied, and represented claimants have substantially higher approval rates at every stage. Most Detroit firms take the case from initial application forward at the same fee.
SSA maintains a Blue Book of medical listings. Common qualifying conditions include musculoskeletal disorders, mental health disorders (depression, anxiety, bipolar, PTSD, schizophrenia), neurological conditions, autoimmune disease, cancer, and heart conditions. The medical condition must be expected to last 12 months or result in death.
Informal, held at the Oak Park or Mt. Clemens hearing office (or by video/phone). Lasts 30 to 60 minutes. The Administrative Law Judge asks you questions about your medical conditions, work history, and daily activities. A vocational expert testifies about what jobs (if any) you can perform. Your lawyer presents arguments and may cross-examine the VE.
Limited. SSA looks at substantial gainful activity (SGA) thresholds, $1,620/month for non-blind in 2025. Earning above SGA usually disqualifies your claim. Trial work periods and limited part-time work are sometimes permissible — check with your lawyer before taking any work.
Appeal. First step is reconsideration (Michigan requires it). If denied again, request an ALJ hearing. Approval rates at hearing with representation are substantially higher than at the initial level. Do not give up on an initial denial.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one the same question: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years, and what is the realistic range of outcomes? The answer tells you most of what you need to know. — The LawFirmSquare team