Hiring Representation Improves Chance of Initial Approval by 72%

Hiring Representation Can Dramatically Improve SSDI Outcomes

Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits can feel overwhelming. The application process is complex: claimants must compile employment history, medical records, impairment documentation, and sometimes navigate a long appeals process before a final decision. According to a new NBER study, having a qualified representative during the initial phase of the application offers a powerful advantage — and transforms how quickly and efficiently cases are resolved. (NBER)

📈 Representation Improves Initial Approval 72%

• The authors find that legal representation — when engaged before the initial evaluation begins — increases the probability of initial allowance by 23 percentage points, from 32% to 55%1. (NBER) 
• In practice, this means that claimants who might otherwise be denied during their first review have a much stronger chance of being approved when a representative helps prepare their case from the start. (NBER) 

🔁 Faster Results, More Efficient Resolutions

According to the study, representation doesn’t just increase initial approvals — it also streamlines the overall process:

• Claimants represented at the initial stage are 60 percentage points less likely to appeal to the hearing level after a denial. (NBER) 
• Because fewer cases proceed to appeal, the total processing time drops by nearly a year (about 316 days). (NBER) 

What this suggests: when represented early, many claimants avoid the drawn-out appeals process entirely — getting approved sooner and without extra delays.

✅ Why Representation Makes a Difference

The researchers suggest one primary mechanism for this improved performance: represented claimants are better at identifying when their medical condition automatically meets one of the recognized “Listings of Impairments.” In such cases, SSDI eligibility depends on the medical condition alone, rather than needing extensive evidence about vocational capacity or residual functioning. (NBER)

In particular, representation appears especially effective for applicants with mental impairments — a group often facing challenges documenting their disability in ways that meet SSA’s strict criteria. (NBER)

📊 Speed and Certainty Improve 

For many claimants, what matters most is when and how the award arrives: representation leads to earlier decisions, fewer appeals, and far shorter waiting periods — all valuable outcomes.

• Emphasize the value of early-stage representation, not just appeals. 
• Use the 23-point boost in initial approval probability as a core data-driven marketing claim. 
• Highlight that representation often reduces total processing time by nearly a year — a key benefit for claimants needing timely support. 

Educate potential clients about tradeoffs (e.g., more denials for “insufficient evidence”) and help them make informed decisions at every stage.