New Jersey Social Security Disability Lawyers

Although Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are federal programs, each state handles claims differently. In New Jersey, 24 Social Security field offices process initial claims, appeals and benefit payments, while a separate Disability Determination Services office decides whether claims meet Social Security’s medical definition of disability.

Initial claims and reconsideration filings are handled jointly by a local Social Security field office and Disability Determination Services (DDS) which review whether claimants qualify for Social Security Disability benefits.

In New Jersey, 24 Social Security field offices manage initial claims, appeals processing, and benefit payments. These offices send cases to the Disability Determination Services office in Trenton to decide whether the claim meets Social Security’s medical definition of disability.

Because each office has different procedures and wait times, working with an experienced Social Security Disability attorney, such as the attorneys at RQP Law, can help you understand what to expect.

If DDS and your local Social Security field office deny your claim and you request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, your case will be sent to one of New Jersey’s three Office of Hearing Operations (OHO) locations.

After your case is assigned to a specific OHO, an Administrative Law Judge will schedule a hearing. At the hearing, you and your Social Security Disability attorney can present your case, testify, submit evidence, and respond to testimony from vocational or medical experts. The judge will then decide whether you qualify as disabled under Social Security’s rules and regulations.