If your Social Security disability claim has been denied — or you are about to file for SSDI or SSI in the Upstate — the firms below help Greenville claimants apply, appeal, and stand before an Administrative Law Judge. The lawyer you choose shapes the medical evidence in your file and how your appeal is argued. And because disability fees are set by federal law, the right representation usually costs nothing unless you win.
Updated June 8, 202612 min readEditorially independent
Choosing a Social Security disability lawyer is high-stakes, and the right fit depends on where you are — a first application, a denial, or a hearing. Below are Greenville disability firms and attorneys that appear consistently across Justia, Avvo, Super Lawyers, Expertise.com, and FindLaw, with verifiable focus on SSDI and SSI work. Most take cases on contingency, offer a free consultation, and handle every stage — application, reconsideration, the ALJ hearing, and federal review if needed.
How we picked these 9: We reviewed independent directory listings (Justia, Avvo, Super Lawyers, FindLaw, Expertise.com), bar standing, depth of Social Security disability focus, and whether the firm regularly handles hearings and appeals. Firms that appeared consistently across at least two independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement. More on our methodology →
1
Pilzer Klein, P.C.
GreenvilleDisability-only firm
Practice focus: Social Security Disability (SSDI/SSI), hearings, appeals, federal court
One of the Upstate's most established disability-only practices, Pilzer Klein focuses exclusively on Social Security Disability. Attorney Donald Pilzer accepted his first SSD case in 1982 and is a sustaining NOSSCR member, and the firm's attorneys have argued at every level of the appeal process, before Administrative Law Judges and in federal court.
Practice focus: Social Security Disability (SSDI/SSI), appeals, workers' comp
With offices in Greenville and Fountain Inn, Venus Poe handles Social Security disability claims and appeals throughout western South Carolina, alongside workers' compensation and injury work, with a free review of a claim or a denial.
Practice focus: Social Security Disability (SSDI/SSI), workers' comp, personal injury
Founded in 1993, Fulton & Barr serves clients across Upstate South Carolina in Social Security disability, workers' compensation, and injury matters. Its SSI/SSDI team handles claims and appeals throughout the region.
Practice focus: Social Security Disability (SSDI/SSI), hearings
Attorney Stephen Yacobi has represented Social Security disability claimants from Greenville and surrounding areas for more than three decades and is a long-standing member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, bringing deep experience with the SSA process to Upstate claimants.
Practice focus: Social Security Disability (SSDI/SSI), appeals, workers' comp
A Greenville practice led by attorney Hal Roach, who has practiced in the Upstate since the early 1990s, the firm handles Social Security disability claims alongside workers' comp and injury work.
Practice focus: Social Security Disability (SSDI/SSI), nursing home, personal injury, workers' comp
An Upstate firm where attorney Patrick Knie carries decades of trial experience, Knie & Shealy handles Social Security disability claims and appeals alongside its injury and workers' comp practice.
Practice focus: Social Security Disability (SSDI/SSI), SSA hearings, workers' comp
Led by attorney Richard "Ric" Davis, AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell with more than three decades of practice, the Davis Law Group has extensive experience before the Social Security Administration and represents Upstate claimants through the claim and hearing process.
Practice focus: Social Security Disability (SSDI/SSI), appeals, workers' comp
A long-standing Upstate firm serving Greenville and Easley, Smith Jordan handles Social Security disability alongside workers' comp and injury claims, representing clients before the SSA and the South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission.
Practice focus: Social Security Disability (SSDI/SSI), workers' comp
Attorneys Patrick H. Allan and D. Andrew Turman concentrate their Greenville practice on Social Security disability and workers' comp, each with roughly three decades of experience, representing Upstate claimants through applications, appeals, and hearings.
Match the firm to your stage. If you have not filed yet, almost any firm above can help you apply correctly; if you have been denied and are heading to a hearing, lean toward a firm that lives in Social Security work. Ask who prepares your file, who stands beside you at the hearing, and how the firm gathers medical records, because a disability case is won or lost on that evidence.
What to look for in a disability lawyer
The firms above are a starting point, not a verdict — use these five signals to compare them.
Real Social Security disability focus. “We handle everything” is a weakness here, not a strength. SSDI and SSI have their own rules and judges, so you want a lawyer who works disability claims week in and week out.
Straight talk about your odds. A good lawyer tells you honestly whether your record supports a claim and what it still needs. If everything sounds like a guaranteed approval, be skeptical.
Communication you can live with. Disability cases run for many months, so ask who returns your calls, how fast, and whether you reach the attorney or only a screener.
Hands-on medical evidence work. The best firms chase down your records, identify gaps, and seek opinions from your treating doctors — that is what persuades a judge.
Hearing experience in the Upstate. A lawyer who regularly appears before Administrative Law Judges serving the Greenville and Columbia area knows how hearings run and how to prepare you to testify, so ask how many they handled last year.
What a disability claim looks like in Greenville
A disability claim begins with an application to the Social Security Administration — online, by phone, or at the local field office — for SSDI, SSI, or both. South Carolina's Disability Determination Services reviews your evidence and issues an initial decision, and most first applications are denied, which is normal and not the end of the road.
If denied, the next step is reconsideration by a different reviewer; you generally have 60 days to request it. If that is also denied, you request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, scheduled for Upstate claimants through a Social Security hearing office serving the Greenville and Columbia area, with many held by video or phone. This is where strong representation matters most: your lawyer organizes the medical evidence and prepares you to testify about your daily limitations. From there, the federal process continues to the Appeals Council and, if necessary, to U.S. District Court — the same framework applies whether you live in Greenville, Greer, Mauldin, or Easley.
What does a disability lawyer in Greenville cost?
This part surprises most people, and it is good news: Social Security disability fees are set and regulated by federal law, not by the lawyer. Representation is on contingency: your attorney is paid only if you win, and the fee is capped — generally 25 percent of your past-due benefits up to a national maximum the Social Security Administration adjusts periodically, whichever is lower.
That means no hourly rate and no retainer up front, and if your claim does not result in back benefits, you typically owe no attorney fee at all. You may still owe modest out-of-pocket costs for obtaining medical records, so ask each firm to explain those in writing. Read more in our guide to attorney costs.
Red flags to watch for
Guaranteed approvals. No ethical lawyer can promise the Social Security Administration will approve your claim, so if a firm guarantees an outcome before reviewing your records, walk away.
Pressure to file a new claim instead of appealing. Starting over usually forfeits your original filing date and the back benefits tied to it, so a lawyer who pushes a fresh claim when an appeal is still possible may not have your interests first.
No real track record with hearings. “We handle thousands of cases” is marketing. Real evidence is NOSSCR membership, a clean bar record, and a clear answer on how many hearings they handled last year.
You never speak to a lawyer. If every call is fielded by intake staff and you cannot learn who your attorney is, that is a sign of a volume operation. You want the name of the person who will stand with you.
Vague or surprising costs. The fee is federally capped, so any firm that is cagey about it — or hints at extra charges beyond record costs — is one to question.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
How much of your practice is Social Security disability? You want a number, not “we do those too.”
Who will handle my case, and who appears at my hearing? Get a name, not just a firm brand.
How many ALJ hearings did your firm handle last year? Hearing experience is the best predictor here.
What does my file still need? A good lawyer can already point to gaps in the medical evidence.
Should I appeal or file a new claim, and what is my deadline? The 60-day window matters.
How do you gather my medical records and treating-doctor opinions? This is the work that wins cases.
What is your fee, and what out-of-pocket costs might I owe? Get the details in writing.
How and how often will I hear from you? Set the communication expectation now.
Do you also handle VA or long-term disability? Useful if more than one program applies.
What is your honest read on my chances and timeline? A lawyer who only promises the high end is selling, not advising.
What's specific about Greenville and South Carolina
A state agency decides the medical question first. Your initial SSDI or SSI application and reconsideration are reviewed by South Carolina's Disability Determination Services, which weighs your medical evidence against Social Security's rules, so getting your records complete here can save you a long appeal.
Hearings serve the Upstate through Greenville and Columbia. At the hearing stage, your claim is handled through a Social Security hearing office serving the Greenville and Columbia area, with many hearings held by video or phone. A local lawyer knows the rhythm of getting a case heard.
Many Upstate firms pair disability with workers' comp. Several Greenville firms handle Social Security disability alongside South Carolina workers' compensation, so if your inability to work stems from a job injury, mention it. Compare local options on our Greenville city page and in the full disability legal guide.
Your first steps this week
Find your denial notice and note the deadline. If you have been denied, the date on the notice starts your 60-day appeal clock, and missing it can force you to start over.
Gather your medical records. List every doctor, clinic, and hospital that has treated you, with dates. A disability claim comes down to medical evidence, so having this ready makes the first meeting productive.
Write down your work history. List your jobs over the last several years and what each required; Social Security weighs whether you can still do past work.
Book two free consultations. Talk to at least two firms before you commit, and choose the one who explains your options clearly.
Talk to a Greenville disability lawyer — free, no obligation
Tell us where you are in the SSDI or SSI process and we'll match you with vetted Greenville firms above.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between SSDI and SSI?
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) is for people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes long enough to be insured. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is needs-based, for people with limited income and resources, regardless of work history. Many Greenville claimants qualify for one or both, and a lawyer files for whichever fits.
Do I need a lawyer to apply for disability in Greenville?
You can apply on your own, but most claims are denied at first. Claimants represented at the hearing level are generally more likely to be approved, because a lawyer gathers the medical evidence, frames it against Social Security's rules, and prepares you for the judge. Most Greenville firms work on contingency, so there is usually nothing to lose by talking to one.
How much does a disability lawyer in Greenville cost?
Disability fees are set by federal law. Your lawyer is paid only if you win, and the fee is a percentage of your past-due benefits — 25 percent up to a national cap the Social Security Administration adjusts periodically. There is no hourly rate, and if you do not win back benefits, you generally owe no attorney fee.
What happens if my disability claim is denied?
A denial is not the end. You generally have 60 days to appeal — to reconsideration, then a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, and if needed the Appeals Council and federal court. Many claims denied at first are approved later, which is exactly where an experienced disability lawyer adds the most value.
Where is the disability hearing held for Greenville claims?
Hearings before an Administrative Law Judge for Upstate South Carolina claimants are typically scheduled through a Social Security hearing office serving the Greenville and Columbia area, and many are now held by video or phone. Your lawyer handles scheduling, prepares your file, and appears with you.
How long does a disability claim take in South Carolina?
It varies. An initial decision often takes several months, and if you are denied and go through reconsideration and a hearing, the full process can run well over a year. A lawyer cannot speed up the agency, but keeping your file complete and your appeals on time avoids needless delay.
What medical conditions qualify for disability?
There is no fixed list of automatic conditions. Social Security asks whether your physical or mental impairments keep you from working at a substantial level for at least 12 months. Back and joint problems, heart and lung conditions, diabetes, cancer, and mental-health conditions such as depression and anxiety are all common in approved claims when the evidence supports them.
Can I work while applying for disability?
Limited work may be possible, but earning above the substantial gainful activity level can disqualify you. The rules are specific and change yearly, so tell your lawyer about any work or income. Misjudging this is a common reason good claims get denied.
Does a Greenville disability lawyer also handle VA or long-term disability?
Some do. Several Upstate firms handle VA disability and private long-term disability claims in addition to SSDI and SSI, while others focus only on Social Security. Ask at the consultation which programs the firm handles, because the rules and the evidence differ for each.
Should I appeal or file a new disability claim?
Almost always appeal rather than start over. Filing a new claim usually means losing the earlier filing date, which can cost you months or years of back benefits. A disability lawyer reviews your denial notice and the deadline and tells you the right move before the 60-day window closes.
One last thing. A disability denial is discouraging, but it is not the end — most approvals come after an appeal. Call two or three firms and ask each how much of their practice is Social Security disability and how many hearings they handled last year. — The LawFirmSquare team
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