Applying for disability?
Every step, drawn and explained.
An illustrated guide for the person applying, or the family member doing the paperwork: SSDI or SSI, work credits, how Social Security decides, the evidence to gather, the Function Report, appeals and the 60-day clock, back pay and Medicare. 200 pages with 2027 amounts and sources. eBook or printed book.
The book on the kitchen table, the PDF for the family member helping from another city · $79.99
Not a wall of rules. One topic per page.
Every page works the same way, so the answer is there in a few minutes: before the phone interview, before mailing a form, the day a letter arrives.
This is what the pages look like.
For whoever sits down with the forms.
Getting ready
Which program fits, whether the work record is enough, and the folder of doctors, medicines, tests and jobs that the application asks for.
A parent, a spouse, a sibling
The adult child or spouse who makes the calls, fills in the forms and tracks the letters. The guide follows the process from their side of the table.
A claim was denied
How to read the denial letter, the four levels of appeal, the forms for each one, and the dates that can't be missed.
The dates that decide a lot.
These rules are federal and written down. The book explains each one with a diagram, the numbers and the source.
60 days, plus 5 for the mail
Social Security assumes a letter arrives 5 days after its date. From then, there are 60 days to ask for the next level of appeal.
Evidence 5 business days before
Written evidence for the judge must be sent, or at least reported, no later than 5 business days before the hearing. Otherwise the judge may decline to consider it.
No pay for months before applying
SSI can only start the month after the application month. A written statement of intent can protect an earlier date, if the application follows in time.
SSDI, SSI, or both?
One looks at the work record, the other at income and savings. Which one fits, and when it makes sense to apply for both at once.
- 2027: average SSDI for disabled workers $1,701 (SSA estimate), SSI federal maximum $1,029
- Work credits: $1,970 each in 2027, the recent-work test by age
- SSI's $2,000 limit, and what doesn't count
- Applying online for SSDI and SSI at the same time: who can
The five-step review, drawn as one flowchart.
What the state agency checks, in order, and why age, education and past jobs matter so much at the last step.
- 2027 "substantial gainful activity": $1,770 a month, $2,950 if blind
- The Blue Book listings and Compassionate Allowances
- Age groups at 50, 55 and 60, and the lifting limits behind "sedentary" and "light"
- Why the jobs from the last 5 years matter
The evidence folder and the Function Report.
What to gather before the interview, and how to describe a real day on the forms with the detail the reviewers look for.
- The SSA starter-kit checklist, as a worksheet to fill in
- SSA-3368, SSA-827 and the Function Report, section by section
- The form's own rules: no blanks, not filled in by a doctor
- Vague versus specific answers, with examples
After a "no": four levels, one clock.
Why first claims are denied, according to SSA's own data, and how each appeal level works, from reconsideration to the hearing with a judge.
- Forms SSA-561, SSA-3441, HA-501 and HA-520
- 60 days to appeal, counted from 5 days after the letter date
- The hearing: 75 days' notice, evidence 5 business days before
- Average times in FY2026: 190.9 days for a first decision, 270 for a hearing
When the money starts, and what help costs.
The five-month waiting period, back pay, Medicare, and the rules for paying an attorney or representative.
- SSDI back pay: up to 12 months before the application month
- Medicare after 24 months of benefits; sooner with ALS or kidney failure
- Representative fees: approved by SSA, the lesser of 25% of past-due benefits or $9,200 under a fee agreement
- Working on SSDI: the 9-month trial, $1,270 a month in 2027
Two people, one page, the same next step.
The person applying and the family member helping can look at the same chart, keep the same folder and track the same dates.
- Built on laws, regulations and SSA publications, cited on every page
- Reviewed every year: SGA, SSI and work-credit amounts change every January
- Plain words, with SSA's own terms explained
From the first form to the last appeal, in one guide.
Full table of contents
On screen, on paper, or both.
Color PDF, right after payment
Open it on a phone, tablet or computer, and share it with the family member who helps. Print the worksheets as many times as you need.
200 color pages, spiral-bound
Lies flat next to the forms and the phone. Free US shipping, about 5–8 business days. Want both? Printed + eBook for $79.99.
The evidence folder and the worksheets.
Everything the application asks for, in the order it asks: doctors and visit dates, medicines, tests, jobs from the last 5 years, and two people who know about the condition.
- Medical sources, medicines and job history to fill in
- A deadline calendar for every letter that arrives
- With the eBook: print them again whenever they're needed
See 10 real pages, free.
SSDI or SSI, work credits, the five-step review, age and work capacity, the evidence folder, the Function Report, why claims are denied, the four appeal levels, when the money starts and working on SSDI. Read them and decide with the pages in front of you.
See the 10 pages ↓
How is it different?
| What it has | This guide | ssa.gov | Books on Amazon | Attorney or representative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Programs, forms, appeals and money in one place | ✓ | Spread across many pages and publications | Varies | ✓ |
| Flowcharts, timelines and diagrams | ✓ | Varies | Mostly text | — |
| 2027 amounts with the source on each page | ✓ | ✓ | Varies by edition | ✓ |
| Worksheets and a deadline calendar to print | ✓ | Starter kit | Varies | Varies |
| Handles the claim and speaks for the applicant | ✗ General information | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Price | From $39.99 | Free | Mostly $10 to $36 | SSA-approved fee (fee agreement: lesser of 25% of back pay or $9,200) |
You can start reading tonight.
You pay
Secure checkout, no account, no subscription. One payment.
You open the eBook
If you chose the eBook, the download link arrives by email. Open it on a phone, tablet or computer.
The book arrives
If you chose the printed book, it ships free to your US address.
The whole process, from the first form to the last appeal.
- 200 illustrated color pages, 17 chapters
- SSDI or SSI, work credits, the five-step review
- The evidence folder, the Disability Report and the Function Report
- Why claims are denied, and the four levels of appeal with their deadlines
- Waiting period, back pay, Medicare, representative fees, working on SSDI
- 2027 amounts, each with its official source
- Worksheets and a deadline calendar to print
- Printed book: spiral-bound, lies flat
What people ask before buying
Is this legal advice?
No. This guide provides general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice, and it is not a substitute for an attorney or a qualified representative. It explains the federal rules Social Security publishes, so the person applying and the family can prepare and ask the right questions.
Will it tell us whether the claim will be approved?
No. Only Social Security and the state disability agency decide. The guide explains how they decide, what they ask for, and the deadlines, so nothing is missed. It doesn't promise any result.
Does it cover SSDI, SSI, or both?
Both. The medical rules for adults are the same; the work-credit rules apply to SSDI and the income and savings rules to SSI. Each page says which program it's about.
The claim was already denied. Is it too late?
The appeal chapters start from the denial letter: how to read the reason, which form to send, and how the 60 days are counted. Social Security assumes the letter arrived 5 days after its date. If the deadline has passed, SSA can give more time for a good reason, asked for in writing.
Can a family member help with the application?
Yes, in several ways. Anyone can help gather records and fill in forms; the Function Report even asks for the name of the person completing it. To act on someone's behalf with Social Security, a person can be appointed as representative with form SSA-1696. The guide explains both.
Do we need an attorney?
It's a choice. SSA lets people apply and appeal on their own, or appoint an attorney or a non-attorney representative. Fees must be approved by SSA; under a fee agreement they are the lesser of 25% of past-due benefits or $9,200. Some organizations offer free legal help, and the local Social Security office keeps a list. The book explains how it works, without recommending anyone.
Does it matter what the condition is?
The process is the same for every condition. The Blue Book has listings for 14 body systems in adults, and Compassionate Allowances list more than 300 conditions that SSA can decide faster. The guide explains how both work; it doesn't evaluate any medical condition.
Are you affiliated with Social Security?
No. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration, the state Disability Determination Services, CMS or any government agency. SSA's own publications are free at ssa.gov, and every page of the guide points to them.
Are the numbers up to date?
The 2027 amounts were checked on November 9, 2026 against official sources: ssa.gov, SSA's actuarial pages, ecfr.gov and the Federal Register. They are the amounts SSA announced in October 2026, together with the 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment. The numbers change every January, so we review the guide every year.
Do you sell legal services or referrals?
No. We sell the guide only, and we don't receive referral fees.
Can I read it on my phone?
Yes. The eBook is a color PDF that opens on a phone, tablet or computer. You can print the worksheets and any page you want.
When does the printed book arrive?
Shipping is free to US addresses and takes about 5–8 business days. The eBook arrives by email right after payment.
What if it's not right for me?
You have a 30-day guarantee. Write to us within 30 days and we'll refund you. No questions, no forms.
Ready to see every step of the disability claim on one page?
200 illustrated pages, 2027 amounts with sources, the forms and the deadlines. 30-day guarantee.
From $39.99 · eBook or printed