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If a disability keeps you from working, Social Security Disability can replace part of your income — but most first-time claims are denied. Reach out to the Pinder Plotkin Legal Team for a free, no-obligation conversation about your SSDI or SSI claim and what your options are.
At Pinder Plotkin, the initial consultation is free, whether by phone or in person. You have the right to an attorney, and we work on a contingency basis — you do not pay attorney fees up front while dealing with medical bills and lost wages, and our fee comes only after you win.
Social Security Disability is available for individuals who are unable to work because of a disability. The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers two different Social Security Disability programs. Each program has different requirements and pays different amounts. One of our Baltimore Disability attorneys can help you complete the application for benefits to determine which program you may qualify for to receive benefits.
For a free case review, contact us to speak with one of our esteemed personal injury lawyers in Baltimore at Pinder Plotkin.
The Pinder Plotkin Legal Team helps Baltimore clients apply for SSDI and SSI, fix denied claims, and prepare for hearings before a judge, on a contingency fee: you pay nothing unless we win.
You are "disabled" to Social Security only if a medical condition stops you from doing substantial work and is expected to last at least 12 months or end in death. You don't have to be totally disabled — but in 2026, earning more than $1,690 a month ($2,830 if you're blind) usually counts as substantial work and disqualifies you.
To be considered disabled, you must have a medically determinable mental or physical impairment that is expected to be fatal or last more than 12 months, and that prevents you from engaging in a substantial gainful activity (SGA).
SSDI is for people who worked and paid into Social Security long enough; SSI is need-based for people with little income and few assets. SSDI generally takes 40 work credits (20 earned in the last 10 years); SSI limits you to under $2,000 in assets ($3,000 for a couple). Some people qualify for both.
SSI or Supplemental Security Income is for low-income individuals who have not worked enough hours to qualify for SSDI. SSDI or Social Security Disability Insurance is available to workers who become disabled and have earned enough work credits, based on your age and work history.
You can apply online, by phone, or in person — but most first-time claims are denied, often for avoidable paperwork mistakes. A Baltimore disability attorney can help you file correctly the first time and appeal within 60 days if you're turned down.
A Baltimore Social Security Disability attorney can help you complete your application and avoid some of the common mistakes that result in a denial of disability benefits, and can also help you appeal a denial.
Social Security keeps a "Blue Book" of impairments across 14 body systems. If your condition matches a listing — or limits you as severely as one — you can qualify. Common qualifying categories include:
A condition that isn't on the list can still qualify if it limits you as much as a listed one does.
If a workplace injury keeps you from working long-term, you may qualify for both Maryland workers' compensation and SSDI at the same time — they're separate systems. But there's a catch: an offset rule caps your combined workers' comp and SSDI at 80% of your average current earnings before you got hurt, and Social Security reduces your SSDI to stay under that cap.
How your workers' comp settlement is written — a lump sum versus benefits spread over your lifetime — can change how much of that offset applies. That's why it's worth talking to us before you settle your comp case. Our workers' compensation attorney, Marc Hassan, handles that side in-house, so both claims work together instead of against each other.
Most first-time disability claims are denied — roughly 62–65% nationally — so a denial doesn't mean your case is weak. You have 60 days from the denial to appeal, and there are four levels:
A fresh review by SSA. Most are denied again, but it's a required step.
Your best odds — roughly half of hearings end in approval. We present medical evidence and vocational testimony.
Reviews the judge's decision for legal error.
A lawsuit in U.S. District Court if the Appeals Council denies.
Baltimore-area hearings run through SSA's Baltimore Office of Hearings Operations. Deadlines are strict — missing the 60 days can force you to start over, so call us as soon as you get a denial.
Why Do Disability Claims Get Denied the First Time?
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We handle disability cases throughout the Baltimore area and the surrounding counties.
Initial decisions usually take about six months. If you're denied and appeal to a hearing, the full process can run a year or more. We push to keep your file complete so it moves as fast as possible.
You can apply yourself, but most first-time claims are denied, and the odds improve at the hearing level. We handle the paperwork, gather the right medical evidence, and represent you before the judge.
Limited work is allowed, but earning over the monthly substantial gainful activity limit (about $1,690 in 2026) usually disqualifies you. We'll tell you where the line is for your situation.
SSDI is based on your work history. SSI is need-based for people with limited income and assets. Some people qualify for both.
Appeal within 60 days. Most approvals happen at the hearing level before an administrative law judge, and that's where having a lawyer matters most.
You may qualify for both, but an offset rule can reduce your SSDI. Talk to us before you settle your workers' comp case.
Anything in Social Security's Blue Book across 14 body systems, plus conditions that limit you as severely as a listing does.
SSDI recipients qualify for Medicare after a 24-month waiting period; SSI recipients in Maryland generally get Medicaid. SSDI cash benefits also start after a 5-month waiting period.
These guides were created to help you protect your health, avoid costly mistakes, and understand your rights after an accident.
Jason Plotkin was born and raised in Baltimore City and County, and he shows up in the community he grew up in. He is the former President of the Parkville Carney Business Association, served on the Board of Directors of the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc. from 2017 to 2020, and sat on the YMCA's Parkville/Perry Hall Community Advisory Board from 2017 to 2018. When you work with our firm, you are working with people who know this city — its roads, its courts, and its neighbors.
Whether you're applying for the first time or fighting a denial, we'll tell you honestly where your claim stands. Call (888) 844-5373 for a free consultation with the Pinder Plotkin Legal Team.
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