Denied benefits? You're not alone — and you have options.
About two-thirds of initial Social Security Disability applications are denied. The system is byzantine, the medical evidence requirements are strict, and the wait times are long. Most people who try to do it without help give up. Most people who hire an experienced NYC disability lawyer win their case — usually on appeal, but win it they do.
These 10 NYC firms specialise in Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and overlapping workers' compensation and personal injury matters. By federal law, their fee comes out of any back-pay award you receive — you pay nothing up front.
How we picked these 10: We reviewed published verdicts and settlements, peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, Avvo), client review patterns, and bar association recognition. Firms that appeared consistently across independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: Social Security Disability, workers' compensation, personal injury
Nearly a century of NY disability practice. One of the largest combined SSD + comp practices in the state. Multiple Super Lawyers.
Practice focus: Social Security Disability, SSI, ERISA disability, veterans disability
Founder Gabriel J. Hermann has practiced disability law since 1997 and represented thousands of disabled claimants. Multiple Super Lawyers attorneys.
Practice focus: Social Security Disability, workers' comp, personal injury
Half a billion dollars recovered for clients across all practice areas. Strong combined SSD + comp + PI practice for injured workers.
Practice focus: Social Security Disability, SSI
Founder Stephen Jackel personally handles every case from intake through ALJ hearing. High win rate; client reviews consistently emphasize personal attention.
Practice focus: Social Security Disability, workers' comp, NYS disability retirement
Heavy NYS Disability Retirement (Tier 3/4/6) practice — important for civil servants who can't work. Multiple Super Lawyers.
Practice focus: Workers' comp, SSD, personal injury
Heavy outer-borough practice with multilingual intake (Greek, Spanish, Korean). Frequent SSD cases involving construction worker injuries.
Practice focus: Social Security Disability, workers' comp, third-party PI
100+ years of practice. The Disability Guys — heavy advertising and 24/7 intake. Strong record on cardiopulmonary and orthopedic claims.
Practice focus: Workers' compensation, asbestos, SSD
Heavy WCB + SSD practice. Multiple partners selected to Super Lawyers. Strong with claims involving long-term exposure injuries.
Practice focus: Workers' comp, SSD, vehicle and slip-and-fall PI
Strong Hudson Valley + NYC practice for clients with overlapping comp/SSD/PI claims. Experienced ALJ hearing trial team.
Practice focus: Workers' comp, SSD, personal injury
Geoffrey Schotter is a long-time NY WCB and SSA authority. Trusted by union-side plaintiffs across Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Tell us about your situation and we'll match you with vetted Social Security Disability attorneys in New York City. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Request Free Consultation →Initial application: 4-6 months. If denied, you reconsider (3-6 months) and then request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge — typically held at the Manhattan, Queens, or Bronx Office of Hearings Operations. Hearings are now mostly by video. Most cases are won at the ALJ stage. From application to a positive decision can take 12-24 months. Your lawyer obtains the medical records, prepares your testimony, and cross-examines the vocational expert.
By federal law (42 U.S.C. § 406), Social Security Disability lawyer fees are capped at 25% of back pay or $7,200 (whichever is less) — and the fee is paid directly by the Social Security Administration out of your back-pay award. If you don't win, you don't pay. There are no upfront costs. Free consultations are universal in this practice area.
The legal directory you find on Google has thousands of New York City Social Security Disability firms. Most are competent. A few are problematic. The patterns to avoid:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific recovery, dismissal, or visa approval, walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior partner at intake, then never speak to them again. The case is handled by an unsupervised junior or a paralegal. Ask in writing who will be your day-to-day attorney.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the retainer in writing, time to read it, and the option to take it home. High-pressure intake is almost always a sign of a volume mill, not a craftsperson's practice.
No verifiable track record. The firm should be able to point to verdicts, settlements, peer rankings, or bar association recognition. "We've helped thousands of clients" is marketing copy. Specific numbers, named cases, and third-party rankings are evidence.
Vague fee terms. "Don't worry about cost" is a red flag. Every legitimate New York City lawyer will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what's covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you fire them.
Most New York City firms on this list offer a free initial consultation. Use it. Bring a list of questions and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign.
New York City is its own market. The procedure, the courts, and the strategy are city- and state-specific in ways that matter to your outcome.
Local courthouses matter. NY Supreme, Civil Court, and the Commercial Division have judges, calendars, and procedures that shape how cases move. A firm that knows the local courthouse has an advantage.
Filing deadlines are strict. Notice of Claim windows for cases against the City or County, Statute of Limitations periods, and pre-suit certification requirements vary by case type and are unforgiving. A missed deadline often means a lost case — full stop.
Local procedure rules matter. Each court has its own forms, motion practice, and judge preferences. The right New York City firm will know not just the law, but the unwritten rules of the courthouse you'll be in.
Local plaintiffs/defendants do well in front of local juries. Verdict patterns vary by venue, and a trial-capable firm uses venue strategically.
You must be unable to perform substantial gainful activity (SGA — about $1,550/month in 2026 for non-blind individuals) for 12 months or more due to a medically determinable impairment, and you must have enough work credits. SSI doesn't require work credits but is means-tested.
You can. But many lawyers recommend you call them before filing. They can check whether your medical evidence is sufficient and structure the application to avoid common denial reasons. There's no fee until you win, so the consultation costs nothing.
Don't give up. Approval rates at the ALJ stage are far higher than initial decisions. Filing deadlines are short — 60 days to appeal — so move fast. A lawyer dramatically increases your odds at hearing.
Limited part-time work (under SGA) is allowed. The Social Security Administration looks at monthly earnings. Your lawyer can advise on what is and isn't safe to do during the application.
Once you're approved, back pay is typically issued within 60-90 days. The lawyer's fee is deducted directly. SSI back pay is sometimes paid in installments.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many cases like mine have you taken to verdict in the last three years? The answer tells you everything. — The LawFirmSquare team