What to Bring to Your Social Security Disability Consultation

Preparing for a SSD phone consultation is straightforward. Having your basic personal information, a list of your medical conditions and providers, a summary of your work history, and any correspondence from the Social Security Administration available during the call allows the conversation to be as productive as possible. Complete organization is not required to begin, but the more detail you can provide during that first phone call, the sooner we at Horn & Kelley, PC can advise you on how we may be able to assist. If you live in Lake Station or elsewhere in Lake County and are unable to work, call 888-921-5297 to schedule your free phone consultation today.

The Consultation Is Conducted by Phone

Your first contact with our firm is a free phone consultation rather than an office visit. There is no need to travel or take time away from your other obligations to begin. During the call, we review your circumstances, answer your questions, and determine together whether we can assist with your claim. An in-person appointment takes place at a later stage, after both you and our firm have decided to move forward and there is paperwork to complete. Beginning with a phone consultation allows you to receive clear, informed answers about your situation from home.

The Value of Preparation

The consultation is the point at which we learn about your circumstances and evaluate whether we can assist. The more clearly you can describe your situation during the call, the more useful the conversation will be. There is no formal examination, and we do not turn anyone away for lacking a particular document. Assembling a few key details in advance simply allows us to respond more efficiently and to give you more accurate guidance about your options.

Your Medical Information

Medical evidence is central to any SSDI claim, so it is helpful to be prepared to discuss it. Please have available a list of your diagnosed conditions, the physicians and clinics that provide your treatment, and any hospitals where you have received care. Noting the approximate dates of significant treatments, procedures, or hospital stays, along with a current list of your medications, is also useful. You do not need to submit any records before the call. Knowing where your care has been provided is enough for us to obtain the appropriate evidence at the proper time.

Your Work History

SSDI eligibility depends in part on your work history and your Social Security work credits. Please be prepared to describe the positions you have held, the approximate dates of that employment, and the physical or mental demands of each role. This information helps us understand how your condition affects your capacity to work, which is central to how the Social Security Administration evaluates a claim.

Correspondence From Social Security

If you have already filed and received any correspondence from the Social Security Administration, keep it available during the call. A denial notice, an appeal deadline, or a request for additional information tells us where your claim stands and how promptly we may need to act. Deadlines are significant in this process, so any dated notice should be mentioned during the consultation.

What Follows the Consultation

The process begins with the free phone consultation. During that call, we review your circumstances and advise whether we can assist. If you and our firm decide to proceed, we address the next steps at that stage, including any documents to be signed and, when appropriate, an in-person appointment. From that point forward, we manage communication with the Social Security Administration and guide your claim through the initial application, reconsideration, a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, and, if necessary, the Appeals Council, which is the final stage we handle.

Serving Claimants Across Lake and Porter County

At Horn & Kelley, PC, we represent claimants throughout Northwest Indiana, from Lake Station and Merrillville to Crown Point and the surrounding communities. Our office in nearby Highland, IN at 9013 Indianapolis Blvd remains within convenient reach when an in-person appointment becomes appropriate. Because we concentrate solely on Social Security Disability law, we understand precisely what a well-prepared claim requires from the first phone call forward.

Social Security Disability FAQ