Disability Insurance Lawyers: SSDI Guide – Michigan, MI

Introduction: Facing an SSDI Denial in Michigan

If you live anywhere from Detroit to Marquette and your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) application was denied, you are not alone. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), only about one in three initial SSDI applications nationwide is approved. In Michigan, where roughly 327,000 disabled workers received SSDI benefits in 2022 (SSA, Annual Statistical Supplement), thousands more file every year and face denial. This guide—geared toward Michigan residents and slightly claimant-friendly—explains exactly why denials occur, the federal rules that govern appeals, and how you can position your case for success.

The information below relies strictly on authoritative sources such as the Social Security Act, the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), SSA-published data, and federal court opinions issued by the Sixth Circuit (covering Michigan). We omit speculation and keep every location reference accurate for the State of Michigan.

Understanding Your SSDI Rights in Michigan

The Right to Apply and Receive a Written Decision

Under Section 205(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 405(b)), every claimant has the right to file for disability benefits and to receive a written notice of the SSA’s decision, including the reason for any denial.

The Right to Appeal Through Four Administrative Levels

20 C.F.R. § 404.900 lays out the four-step administrative review process you can pursue without ever setting foot in federal court:

• Reconsideration

• Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Hearing

• Appeals Council Review

• Federal District Court

You remain entitled to representation at every stage (20 C.F.R. § 404.1705). Although an attorney does not have to be Michigan-licensed to appear before SSA, practical knowledge of Michigan medical systems and state vocational data can substantially improve your chances.

Key Time Limits to Protect

• 60 days from the date you receive a denial to request reconsideration (20 C.F.R. § 404.909). SSA presumes you received the letter five days after the mailing date, so act within 65 calendar days to be safe.

• 60 days from each subsequent decision to move to the next level.

• Deadline extensions are available only for “good cause,” explained in 20 C.F.R. § 404.911.

Common Reasons the SSA Denies SSDI Claims

1. Lack of “Severe” Medically Determinable Impairment

The SSA uses a five-step sequential evaluation (20 C.F.R. § 404.1520). If your impairment does not significantly limit basic work activities for at least 12 continuous months, the claim stops at step two. Michigan claimants with fluctuating conditions—such as autoimmune disorders aggravated by the Great Lakes climate—often fall victim to this step.

2. Insufficient Medical Evidence

Missing MRI reports, treatment gaps, or failure to follow prescribed therapy can sink a claim. SSA’s Program Operations Manual System (POMS) DI 22505.001 instructs adjudicators to deny when objective evidence is thin. Michigan’s winter travel barriers sometimes lead to missed appointments; claimants should document weather-related cancellations.

3. Earnings Above Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)

If you averaged more than the federal SGA amount ($1,470 per month for non-blind individuals in 2023, per SSA), you are deemed not disabled at step one. Seasonal work—common in Michigan tourism hubs such as Traverse City—can accidentally push earnings over the threshold.

4. Transferable Skills Finding

At step five, the SSA may determine that your past job skills transfer to lighter work existing in significant numbers. ALJs in the Detroit and Grand Rapids hearing offices often rely on regional labor-market data to make this finding.

5. Alcohol or Drug Abuse Disorder (DAA)

Per 20 C.F.R. § 404.1535, benefits cannot be granted if DAA is a “contributing material factor” to disability. Michigan ranks among the top ten states for opioid prescriptions; claimants must prove their underlying conditions would remain disabling even without substance use.

Federal Legal Protections & Regulations Every Michigan Claimant Should Know

Key Statutes and Regulations

• Social Security Act § 223(d) – Defines disability as the inability to engage in substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable impairment expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.

• 20 C.F.R. § 404.1512 – Explains your responsibility to provide medical evidence showing how your impairment affects your functioning.

• 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527 & § 404.1520c – Provide the rules for weighing medical opinions (treating-physician rule for claims filed before March 27, 2017, and supportability/consistency factors for newer claims).

Sixth Circuit Case Law Impacting Michigan

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, whose precedent binds Michigan federal courts, has issued several claimant-friendly rulings, such as Wilson v. Commissioner of Social Security, 378 F.3d 541 (6th Cir. 2004), holding that ALJs must provide “good reasons” for discounting treating physicians. Knowing this case can help Michigan attorneys attack insufficient rationale in ALJ decisions.

Steps to Take Immediately After an SSDI Denial

Step 1: Mark the 60-Day Calendar Deadline

Use certified mail or SSA’s mySSA online portal to file your appeal, so you have proof of timely submission.

Step 2: Request and Review Your Claims File

Ask the local SSA office for your electronic folder. Michigan offices will burn the contents to a secure CD or grant in-office review. Check for missing records from key providers such as Beaumont Health or Spectrum Health.

Step 3: Strengthen Medical Evidence

• Update diagnostic imaging (e.g., at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor).

• Obtain detailed residual functional capacity (RFC) statements from treating specialists.

• Document therapy compliance—especially critical for claimants managing chronic pain with physical therapy at facilities like Henry Ford Hospital.

Step 4: Consider a Vocational Evaluation

Michigan vocational experts can perform Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCEs) to quantify limitations in lifting, sitting, and standing—data ALJs frequently cite.

Step 5: Prepare for Your Hearing

The Detroit Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) at 477 Michigan Ave., Rm 1575, Detroit, MI 48226, typically schedules video or in-person hearings 10–12 months after reconsideration denial. Submit evidence at least five business days before the hearing date (20 C.F.R. § 405.331).

When to Seek Legal Help for SSDI Appeals

While self-representation is permitted, the SSA’s own statistics show that claimants with representation are more likely to be approved at the ALJ level. Michigan attorneys may:

Cross-examine vocational experts using Michigan-specific labor data (e.g., unemployment rates by county from the Michigan DTMB Labor Market Information bureau).

• Draft legal briefs referencing Sixth Circuit precedent.

• Navigate state-based medical lien issues to keep settlement proceeds intact.

Fees are contingency-based and capped at 25 percent of past-due benefits or $7,200, whichever is less, per 42 U.S.C. § 406(a)(2).

Local Resources & Next Steps

Michigan SSA Field Offices

• Detroit (Downtown): 477 Michigan Ave., Rm 450, Detroit, MI 48226

• Grand Rapids: 3045 Knapp St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525

• Lansing: 5210 Perry Robinson Circle, Lansing, MI 48911

Community Health Providers Familiar with SSDI Documentation

• University of Michigan Health System – Ann Arbor

• Henry Ford Health – Detroit

• Sparrow Hospital – Lansing

Free or Low-Cost Legal Help

Michigan Legal Help – online self-help tools and legal aid referrals. University of Michigan Law School Clinics – may accept Social Security cases.

Statistics Snapshot

SSA data show Michigan’s disability rate (beneficiaries as a share of population) at roughly 5.4 percent, slightly above the national average of 4.9 percent. Understanding this context can help explain SSA workload and processing delays at state Disability Determination Services (DDS) in Lansing.

Conclusion

An SSDI denial is not the end—merely the beginning of a structured appeals process grounded in federal law. By acting quickly, gathering compelling Michigan-based medical evidence, and leveraging knowledgeable legal counsel, you can maximize your chance of overturning a denial.

Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information for Michigan residents and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Michigan attorney regarding your specific situation.

If your SSDI claim was denied, call Louis Law Group at 833-657-4812 for a free case evaluation and claim review.