Residents of Chicago (Cook County) have access to many experienced Social Security Disability lawyers and advocates. With the help of an attorney, an individual applying for Social Security Disability benefits can avoid long wait times and increase their chances of being approved.
Currently, the Chicago hearing office has a processing time of 327 days and a total of 5,813 pending cases. Although 327 days can seem like a long time to wait for a decision, most applicants find disability benefits to be worth it. In December of 2011, there were 109,220 Cook County residents receiving SSDI and 159,231 Cook County residents receiving SSI.
To learn more about the two different Social Security Disability programs, visit this page.
If you suffer from a disabling condition or illness and wish to apply for disability benefits, you can initiate the process in one of three ways. The first option is to fill out the appropriate paperwork electronically on the Social Security Administration website. The second option is to call your local office and have them send you hard copies of the forms that you need, fill them out, and return them. Lastly, you can schedule an appointment with a representative at your local office to fill out the application papers in person.
You can reach an office near you at one of the following addresses:
4849 N Milwaukee Ave
Suite 600
Chicago, IL 60630
Telephone: 1-800-772-1213
1325 N. Lake Street
Aurora, IL 60506
Telephone: 1-630-264-2683
Consulting with a Chicago Social Security Disability Attorney
If you are uncomfortable navigating the Social Security Disability application process on your own, you should contact a Chicago attorney or advocate to assist you. For further information about the benefits of hiring an attorney, click here.
A Chicago Social Security Disability lawyer will also handle disability claims in the following cities located in Kane County, DuPage County, Kendall County, Will County, and Kankakee County: Batavia, Naperville, Evanston, Skokie, Geneva, St. Charles, Wheaton, Lombard, Des Plaines, Schaumburg, Montgomery, Boulder Hill, Hammond, Murrillville, Naperville, Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, Wheaton, Waukegan, Lombard, Boilingbrook, Buffalo Grove, Sugar Grove, Elburn, Crystal Lake, and Big Rock.
Contact the following bar association for more information about the legal professionals practicing in Chicago:
The Chicago Bar Association
321 S Plymouth Ct
Chicago, IL 60604
Chicago Disability Hearings
If your initial claim and reconsideration are denied, you will have to request an appeal hearing to be held at the Chicago Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR).
See below for a list of Chicago administrative law judges (ALJs) and their approval rates:
| ALJ | Approval Rate |
| Anglada, Jose | 50.77% |
| Barezky, Bonny S. | 70.19% |
| Carey, Margaret A. | 28.48% |
| Garelick, Jordan | 38.37% |
| Kelsey, Roxanne J. | 0.00% |
| Larskaris, Bill | 31.96% |
| Logan, Michael | 61.57% |
| Mellman, Nathan | 33.75% |
| Saame, Brian | 36.60% |
| Santiago, Melissa M. | 34.41% |
| Skidmore, David | 43.87% |
| Suffi, Carla | 47.56% |
| Wardell, Laurie | 28.15% |
| Wenzel, William | 58.93% |
| Woltering, Luke | 45.83% |
*Data from http://www.ssa.gov/appeals/DataSets/03_ALJ_Disposition_Data.html
Often, Chicago attorneys and Social Security disability advocates will be familiar with the administrative law judges who hear cases in the Chicago hearing office and can use that information to help your case.
If you are experiencing severe financial or medical troubles and would benefit from having your hearing scheduled sooner, you may want to contact your local congressman to request that he intervene with the ODAR on your behalf. Your congressman is located at:
3742 West Irving Park Road
Chicago, IL 60618
Phone: (773) 267-5926
Fax: (773) 267-6583
Fill out the form below to receive a free evaluation from a Chicago Social Security attorney:
