Social Security Disability Attorneys in Tempe, AZ

Tempe residents who can no longer work and were denied Social Security disability often qualify on appeal. A licensed disability attorney serving Tempe will review your denial for free.

Free to use — no fee unless you win
Matched with an Arizona attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free Tempe social security disability case review

A Arizona attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

By submitting, you agree that DearLegal and the attorneys or law firms we connect you with may contact you by phone and email about your inquiry, including by automated technology.

DearLegal is not a law firm and will not provide legal advice. DearLegal connects users to licensed attorneys.

How we match your Tempe social security disability case

When you submit a Tempe social security disability matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A social security disability matter needs someone who handles social security disability work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Federal jurisdiction

This is federal law, so an attorney does not need to be licensed in Arizona to represent you — but they do need to know how your local office and courts handle these cases.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Start my free case review How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Social Security Disability cases in Tempe

More about legal help in Tempe →

Disability applicants in Tempe include longtime warehouse, construction, and hospitality workers with worn-out backs and joints, people with serious mental health conditions, and younger adults with illnesses that interrupt school and work. These claims run through federal Social Security offices and hearing centers serving the Phoenix area, not Maricopa County court, and most are denied at first. Medical documentation and timely appeals determine the outcome. DearLegal matches you with an Arizona-licensed attorney who handles Social Security Disability cases in Tempe, starting with a free review of your claim.

Disability claims from Tempe are decided through the federal Social Security system, not Maricopa County court.
Hearings for Valley applicants are handled through Phoenix-area hearing offices, in person, by phone, or by video.
Warehouse, construction, and service careers account for many local physical disability applications.

Arizona social security disability rules at a glance

Tempe cases run under Arizona law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Arizona page.

Read the full Arizona social security disability guide →

Federal Authority: SSDI
Social Security Act, Title II (SSDI) and Title XVI (SSI) — 42 U.S.C. § 401 et seq. and § 1381 et seq.
SSA Hearing Offices: OHO hearing
OHO hearing offices in Phoenix, Phoenix Downtown, and Tucson
Arizona Disability Determination Service (DDS): DDS makes
Arizona DDS makes the initial and reconsideration medical decisions on behalf of SSA
State SSI Supplement: Arizona does
Arizona does not pay a state supplement on top of federal SSI
Federal Attorney Fee Cap: 25%
25% of past-due benefits, capped at $9,200 (effective Nov 2024, adjusts with COLA) — 42 U.S.C. § 406
Typical attorney fee: 25%
25% of Back Pay (Max $9,200) — paid only from past-due benefits

Exhibit D

How much do Tempe social security disability attorneys cost?

Sample settlement statement

Arizona · Social Security Disability

Recovery$100,000

Attorney fee · 25% of back pay− $25,000

Case costs (advanced by firm)repaid at the end

To you$75,000

Due today$0

Try a different recovery$100,000

$5,000$3,000,000

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Most Arizona social security disability attorneys work on contingency: the fee is a share of what they recover, and nothing if they don’t.

Federal law caps SSDI/SSI attorney fees at 25% of past-due benefits, with a hard maximum of $9,200 (effective Nov 2024, adjusts with the cost-of-living). SSA must approve every fee agreement. You pay nothing out of pocket and nothing from your ongoing monthly benefit — the fee comes only from back pay, and only if you win. If there is no back pay, there is no fee.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Start my free case reviewTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit F

Tempe social security disability questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Arizona attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

You can apply on your own, but approval rates improve significantly with representation, especially at the hearing stage. A Tempe-area attorney will make sure your medical records fully describe your limitations, meet every appeal deadline, and present your case effectively to the administrative law judge.

Initial decisions take months, and if you are denied and appeal to a hearing, the whole process can take well over a year. An attorney cannot speed the agency, but can avoid delays from missed deadlines or incomplete records and can request expedited handling in qualifying situations.

A denial is not the end. You have a short window to appeal, and many claims are approved after a hearing. An attorney will file the appeal on time, gather additional evidence from your Tempe doctors, and prepare you to explain how your condition prevents work.

SSDI (Title II) is based on your work history and the FICA taxes you’ve paid — generally 40 work credits with 20 of them in the last 10 years. SSI (Title XVI) is needs-based and doesn’t require work credits, but income and resources must be very low (generally under $2,000 in countable assets for an individual). Many Arizonans qualify for both ("concurrent" claims) when their work history is limited and household income is low.

Initial decisions from Arizona DDS run roughly 6–8 months. Reconsideration adds several more. ALJ hearings at the Phoenix, Phoenix Downtown, and Tucson OHOs currently run about 12+ months from the hearing request. Compassionate Allowance, TERI (terminal illness), and dire-need flags can move things faster.