Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma Disability Lawyers for SSDI and SSI
Downard & Associates represents adults in Tacoma, Washington, with Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applications, reconsideration requests, and hearings before a Social Security judge. We work with you by phone and video from Tennessee. We help gather medical evidence, address denial reasons, and prepare you for a hearing when your claim reaches that stage. Tell us how your condition has affected your work and where your claim stands.
How we help
How Downard helps with Tacoma applications and denials
We do not take disability cessation or continuing disability review cases, or new cases involving back-pay issues alone.
Application: We help prepare and submit your SSDI application and gather medical records from your treating providers. For SSI, we also help document the income and resources the program requires.
Reconsideration: After an initial denial, we review the reasons the Social Security Administration (SSA) gave, file the reconsideration request, and develop evidence that addresses those reasons.
Hearing: After a reconsideration denial, we request an administrative law judge hearing, prepare you to testify, and present your case. We develop the medical record and explain likely questions.
Our Washington disability representation page provides the statewide overview.
We handle SSDI cases for people who currently receive benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), but we do not handle VA claims or appeals. We do not take disability cessation or continuing disability review cases, or new cases involving back-pay issues alone. We refer federal court appeals to a trusted affiliate rather than handling them in-house.
Benefit eligibility
SSDI and SSI eligibility for Tacoma adults
Duration rule
12months
SSDI generally requires enough recent work covered by Social Security. Work-credit requirements depend on your age when disability began. For SSDI based on statutory blindness, fully insured status is required, but the usual recent-work test does not apply. SSI does not require an insured work record. It has separate income, resource, residency, citizenship or qualifying immigration status, and other requirements. It may be available to people who are 65 or older, blind, or have a qualifying disability.
For SSDI claims not based on statutory blindness and adult SSI claims based on disability, SSA considers whether a medical condition prevents substantial gainful activity, meaning significant physical or mental work usually done for pay or profit. When needed, SSA evaluates your ability to do past work or adjust to other work. It can decide a claim before reaching every step.
The condition and resulting inability to perform substantial gainful activity must have lasted or be expected to last at least 12 consecutive months, unless the condition is expected to result in death. You do not have to wait a year before applying. SSDI based on statutory blindness also has a duration requirement and separate work rules. SSI statutory blindness is different: SSA does not use substantial gainful activity to determine initial eligibility, and there is no duration requirement for SSI statutory blindness. Read SSA's disability eligibility explanation and SSI eligibility requirements.
Local support options
State assistance for Tacoma disability applicants
Eligible Washington residents may receive cash assistance, a referral to the Housing and Essential Needs program, and help applying for federal disability benefits.
If you have little income, ask Washington's Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) about its Aged, Blind, or Disabled program, commonly called ABD. Eligible Washington residents may receive cash assistance, a referral to the Housing and Essential Needs program, and help applying for federal disability benefits. ABD has separate eligibility rules. A pending federal claim does not automatically qualify you.
Pierce South Community Services Office in Tacoma offers cash-assistance services and document submission. Follow DSHS's application instructions and keep state-assistance paperwork separate from SSA claim documents.
For the federal claim, Washington Disability Determination Services, or DDS, reviews medical eligibility at the initial application and reconsideration stages. SSA field offices check nonmedical requirements. DSHS assistance does not replace an SSA application or required appeal.
Get organized
A working file for your Tacoma disability claim
Start with one folder and a short working list. SSA's disability application guidance explains the information to have ready.
Treatment sources: List each doctor, hospital, and clinic, contact information, and treatment dates. Add tests, medications, and the providers who ordered or prescribed them.
Work and limitations: Begin with jobs from the five years before your medical conditions made you unable to work. Follow the reporting-period and job-selection instructions on SSA's form and any accompanying letter. Record dates, hours, pay, and actual duties. Describe the tasks your condition now limits.
SSI finances: Gather income and resource information. Keep any DSHS assistance paperwork in a separate part of the folder so you can identify which agency requested it.
SSA decisions: Save the complete decision and note when you received it. Mark whether it concerns the initial application, reconsideration, or a hearing.
After a denial
Responding to an SSDI or SSI denial in Tacoma
Deadline
60days
After an initial SSDI or SSI denial, reconsideration is generally due within 60 days after you receive the notice. After a reconsideration denial, an administrative law judge hearing request is generally due within 60 days after receipt of that notice. Both requests must be made in writing. SSA presumes receipt five days after the notice date unless you show it did not arrive within that period.
If either request is late, ask for an extension in writing, explain the delay, and show good cause under SSA's rules. SSA decides whether to grant the extension. The SSDI reconsideration rule, SSI reconsideration rule, SSDI hearing-request rule, and SSI hearing-request rule explain the requirements. Contact us promptly so we can discuss the denial and next step.
Hearing next steps
Office and attendance instructions for a Tacoma hearing
SSA's hearing-office directory provides general office information, not your individual case assignment or scheduled hearing site. Check the office named in your case correspondence. An in-person hearing may use a hearing office or another SSA hearing site. Follow your scheduling notice for the location and attendance instructions. Our hearing-office guide provides additional office details.
SSA lists four ways to attend a hearing: in person, telephone audio, agency video using SSA equipment, and online video using your own device. Online video requires your agreement. The Notice of Ways to Attend a Hearing explains the agreement and objection forms; objections to audio or agency video are subject to SSA's rules and exceptions. Follow that notice's response instructions and deadlines, and use your scheduling notice for your case's attendance details. Phone or video meetings with us do not determine your SSA hearing method.
Common questions
Questions about Tacoma disability applications and appeals
Do I need all my medical records before applying?
No. SSA says not to delay applying because you do not have all the documents. Identify your treating providers, provide available records, and respond to information requests. See SSA's application instructions.
Can I apply for SSI if I do not have enough work credits for SSDI?
Yes. SSI does not require an insured work record. You must still meet its income, resource, age, blindness or disability, and other eligibility requirements. Not qualifying for SSDI does not by itself establish SSI eligibility.
Will a diagnosis alone establish that I am disabled?
No. For a disability-based claim, SSA evaluates medical evidence and the applicable disability requirements. It considers whether an impairment meets or medically equals a listing and, when necessary, the work you can still do. Describe the actual limitations along with the diagnosis.
Can DSHS help me apply for SSI?
Eligible ABD recipients can receive SSI application assistance through DSHS. Ask DSHS about eligibility and its application process. That assistance is separate from our SSDI and SSI representation.
Discuss your claim
Discuss your Tacoma SSDI or SSI claim
Contact Downard & Associates about applying for benefits, appealing a denial, or preparing for a hearing. We can discuss your claim by phone or video and explain what our work at that stage involves.