Federal Court Representation

Federal District Court Appeals

Statistics reveal that over 40% of Social Security Disability and/or Supplemental Security Income claims are denied following a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge. An even lower percentage of appeals are reversed or remanded by the Appeals Council. The increasing rate of denials at both the Hearings and Appeals Council levels leaves many deserving claimants without the benefits they need. After a claimant has exhausted the administrative appeals allowed before the Social Security Administration the claimant can proceed to the next level of appeal to the appropriate Federal District Court.

Ms. Patton represents clients who appeal their denials of benefits to the Federal District Court. Ms. Patton will evaluate your case and discuss your potential federal court action with you. Ms. Patton will evaluate and discuss your claim with you for free; if you and Ms. Patton decide that she will represent you in a federal court claim for your Social Security Disability and/or Supplemental Security Income benefits you will enter into a contingency fee contract. This means that Ms. Patton is only paid an attorney fee if your claim is reversed with an award of benefits or reversed and remanded to the SSA.

If you wish to appeal your Appeals Council denial to the Federal District Court you must do so within 60 days of the date you received the Appeals Council denial. An action in the Federal District Court is initiated by filing a Complaint with the appropriate Court and then serving the appropriate parties. The attorney representing the Acting Commissioner of Social Security has 60 days to file a response called an Answer. Following that a series of motions and accompanying briefs are filed by Ms. Patton and the attorney representing the Social Security Administration. Although most of these actions are decided on the written arguments the court can schedule oral arguments. Ms. Patton will discuss the expected time frames at each step of the process, however, this is a lengthy process and clients should not expect a quick resolution.

Ms. Patton and her office staff can also assist eligible clients with filing a new Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security application while she works on your Federal District Court claim. Some clients will even receive an award of benefits on their newly filed applications while they are waiting on a decision from the Federal District Court. Ms. Patton works on a contingency fee basis when representing clients who are starting new applications for Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income claims. This means that Ms. Patton is only paid if you win your claim and receive your benefits.