What is the Process for Getting Social Security Disability in North Carolina?

It feels overwhelming, doesn’t it?

You’re in pain. You can’t work. The job you’ve had for 10, 20, or 30 years is just… gone. You can’t do it anymore.

And on top of all the doctor’s visits, the stress, and the medical bills piling up, you now have to face a mountain of government paperwork.

It’s just… a lot.

We see you. Our team at Huggins Law Firm has sat down with folks from Greensboro, High Point, and all over the Triad who are in this exact spot. They feel lost. They feel worried. And they feel like they are in this fight all by themselves.

You are not alone.

This page is here to help. We are going to walk through this, step-by-step, in plain English. No confusing lawyer-talk. Our goal is to give you the information you need, right now, to feel a little more in control.

Let’s start with a fact that might surprise you.

Getting denied is normal. In North Carolina, more than 70% of first-time Social Security Disability applications are denied. Let that sink in. Seven out of ten people who apply get a “no” in the mail.

Why? It’s not because they aren’t disabled. It’s because the system is a maze. It’s a puzzle. And if you don’t know the rules, it’s almost impossible to win.

But you can win. This guide is your first step.

What is Social Security Disability (and What is it Not)?

First, let’s clear up the biggest myth.

Social Security Disability (SSDI) is not a handout. It is not welfare. It is an insurance policy.

You paid for it.

If you’ve ever looked at your paycheck, you saw a little chunk of money taken out for “FICA.” Part of that FICA tax was your premium for this exact disability insurance. You’ve been paying for it your entire working life.

Now that you can’t work because of a medical problem, you are simply making a claim on the policy you already paid for.

A Quick Note: SSDI vs. SSI You will hear two acronyms: SSDI and SSI. They are very different.

• SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance): This is what we are mostly talking about. It is based on your work history. You paid into the system, and now you are making a claim.
• SSI (Supplemental Security Income): This is a needs-based program. It is for people who are disabled and have very low income and assets. You don’t need a work history to get SSI.

Our team can help you figure out which one (or both) you might be able to get.

How Do I Know if I Qualify for SSDI in North Carolina?

This is the big question, isn’t it? The Social Security Administration (SSA) has two main questions for you.

Question 1: Did you work long enough (and recently enough)?

The SSA uses a system called “work credits.” You get up to four credits each year you work and pay FICA taxes. How many credits you need depends on your age when you became disabled.

This part can get a little math-y, but the basic idea is:

• You generally need 40 credits total.
• 20 of those credits must have been earned in the last 10 years before you became disabled.

This “last 10 years” rule is what trips a lot of people up.

Let’s say you’re a 52-year-old construction worker in Asheboro. You worked hard from age 20 to 48, but then had to stop working because of your back. You’ve been trying to “tough it out” for the last four years, hoping it would get better. When you finally apply, the SSA will look back. You stopped working four years ago, so you are still well within that 10-year window.

But what if you were a stay-at-home parent? You worked for 15 years, then left the workforce 12 years ago to raise your kids. Even if you have enough total credits, you might not have the recent credits.

This is often called your “Date Last Insured” or DLI. It’s a critical date. A lawyer on our team can look at your work history (for free) and tell you what your DLI is. This is the deadline. We must prove to the government that your disability started before that date.

Question 2: Are you “disabled” according to the rules?

This is the one that matters most. And it’s not as simple as getting a note from your doctor.

Your doctor can say, “My patient can’t work.” But the SSA does not have to listen to that. Why? Because “disabled” is a legal term, not just a medical one.

To get SSDI, you must prove that you have a medical condition (physical or mental) that:

1. Stops you from working.
2. Has lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 full months (or end in death).

A broken leg is severe, but it probably won’t keep you out of work for 12 months. A bad back, severe depression, diabetes, heart failure, or cancer? These are the kinds of conditions the SSA looks at.

What is the 5-Step Process Social Security Uses to Decide My Case?

Our team has been in hundreds of disability hearings. We know this 5-step process like the back of our hand. This is the exact list of questions the government will ask.

Step 1: Are you working right now?

This is a simple “yes” or “no.” The government has a dollar amount they call “Substantial Gainful Activity” (SGA). In 2025, that amount is $1,640 a month (or $2,750 if you are blind).

If you are earning more than $1,640 a month, the SSA will deny your claim. They will say, “If you can earn that much, you’re not disabled.”

Step 2: Is your medical condition “severe”?

This sounds simple, but it’s a legal term. “Severe” means your condition must significantly limit your basic work activities. Things like:

• Lifting
• Standing
• Walking
• Sitting
• Remembering instructions
• Getting along with others

Most people pass this step. But if you only have a minor, temporary problem, the SSA might deny you here.

Step 3: Does your condition meet a “Listing”?

The SSA has a huge medical guide called the “Blue Book.” You can see it on the SSA’s website. This book lists thousands of medical conditions and the exact symptoms and test results you need to have.

If your medical records perfectly match one of these listings, you can be approved right away.

This is one of the first things a lawyer on our team does. We hunt through your medical records. Do you have the specific MRI result? The blood test? The psychological evaluation? If so, we make a legal argument that you “meet the listing” for your condition.

Step 4: Can you do any of your “past relevant work”?

This is where it gets tough.

If you don’t meet a “Listing,” the SSA will look at every job you’ve had in the last 15 years.

• Were you a nurse in High Point?
• A factory worker in Burlington?
• A teacher in Winston-Salem?

The government will ask, “With your disability, can you go back and do any of those jobs?”

It doesn’t matter if that job is available. It doesn’t matter if you would want to do it. It just matters if you are physically and mentally able to do the tasks of that old job.

Our lawyers fight this by showing the SSA all the things you had to do. “Yes, she was a teacher, but that job required her to stand for 6 hours, bend over, and handle the stress of 30 kids. Her back and anxiety mean she can’t do that anymore.”

Step 5: Can you do any other work in the national economy?

This is the step where most people are denied. It is the final, hardest battle.

If you can’t do your old job, the SSA will ask, “Okay, but can’t you just go get an ‘easy’ job?” They will look at your age, your education, your skills, and your medical limits.

Then, they will say things like:

• “Can’t you be a security guard who just watches monitors?”
• “Can’t you be a toll booth operator?”
• “Can’t you be a “document sorter’ who just puts papers from one pile into another?”

These jobs may sound made up. But in a hearing, a “Vocational Expert” (VE) will show up and testify that these jobs exist.

This is where having a good disability lawyer is absolutely critical. Our lawyers know how to question this “expert.” We ask the tough questions.

“Mr. Expert, you said my client in Kernersville could be a document sorter. But the doctor said he can’t sit for more than 20 minutes at a time. How can he do that job?”

“Mr. Expert, you said my client could be a security guard. But her pain medicine makes her drowsy and unable to focus. That job requires constant focus, correct?”

We fight to prove that no, there are no jobs you can be expected to do.

What Are the Disability (SSDI) Denial Rates in North Carolina?

The numbers are not pretty. But you need to see them.

Nationally, the average denial rate for first-time SSDI applications is about 67%. In North Carolina, it’s often higher. In some years, it has been over 70%.

• Initial Application: You apply. You wait 4-6 months. You get a denial letter. (7 out of 10 chance).
• Reconsideration: You appeal. You wait another 3-5 months. You get another denial letter. (Over 85% of reconsiderations are denied).

It feels hopeless. It feels like the government is just telling you “no” over and over. They are.

But here’s the secret. This is all just leading up to the most important part of your case: The Hearing.

After you are denied twice, you can ask for a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). This is your first and only chance to talk to a real person. This is your chance to sit in a room (or on a video call) and tell your story to the person who will actually decide your case.

The Greensboro, NC, hearing office has its own stats. And guess what? This is where cases are won.

• Nationally, about 51% of all cases that go to a hearing are approved.
• But here is the most important stat I can give you. A 2017 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that an applicant who has a lawyer at their hearing is 2.9 times more likely to win their case.

Think about that. You are almost three times more likely to get the benefits you paid for if you have an experienced lawyer by your side.

Why? Because we know the judge’s language. We know the expert’s tricks. We know how to build your medical file into a “case” that proves you can’t work, all based on the SSA’s own rules.

How Can a North Carolina Social Security Disability Lawyer Help Me?

When people call our office in Greensboro, they are always worried about the cost.

Let’s get that out of the way right now.

You pay us absolutely nothing unless we win your case.

It’s that simple. There is no up-front fee. There is no “consultation charge.” Nothing. Our fee is set by law. It is a small percentage of your back pay—the money the SSA owes you from the time you became disabled. If we don’t win you any back pay, you pay us zero.

So, what do we do for you?

1. We Handle the Paperwork. The SSA’s forms are designed to trick you. They ask the same question three different ways. We’ve filled out thousands of these. We make sure it’s done right the first time.
2. We Get the Right Medical Records. You might think all your records are helpful. They’re not. We need specific records. We hunt for the tests, the notes, and the MRIs that prove your case.
3. We Work With Your Doctors. A doctor’s note that says “Jane can’t work” is useless. A lawyer on our team works to get a “Residual Functional Capacity” (RFC) form from your doctor. This is a form that speaks the SSA’s language. It asks:
   • “How many pounds can Jane lift?”
   • “How long can she sit?”
   • “Does she need to lay down during the day?”
   • “Will she miss more than 2 days of work a month?” This form is pure gold. It often makes the difference between a win and a loss.
4. We Prepare You for the Hearing. We will sit down with you before your hearing. We will practice the questions the judge is guaranteed to ask you. When you walk into that hearing, you will feel prepared and confident.
5. We Cross-Examine the Experts. As we talked about, the SSA will have a “Vocational Expert” at your hearing. This person is not on your side. Their job is to list jobs you can do. Our job is to show the judge why they are wrong.

You could do all of this yourself. But why would you? You are not a lawyer. You are a person in pain, trying to get your life back. Let our team do the fighting for you.

What Other Help Can I Get?

When you can’t work, the problems stack up. It’s not just about the SSDI check.

• Medical Bills: Are the medical bills from your injury piling up? Are you getting calls from collectors? You might feel like you are drowning. Our firm also helps people with Bankruptcy. A bankruptcy can stop all those calls, protect your home, and give you a fresh start.
• A Will or Power of Attorney: If you are facing a serious medical condition, it’s a good time to make sure your family is protected. Our Estate Planning lawyers can help you get a simple will, a healthcare power of attorney, and a financial power of attorney. This just makes sure you are the one who decides what happens, not a court.
• A Personal Injury Case: Did your disability start because of a car wreck? A slip and fall? A work accident? If someone else’s carelessness hurt you, you may have a Personal Injury case in addition to your SSDI case. This can help you get money for your pain and suffering.

Our firm is set up to help you with all of these problems. You don’t have to drive all over town. We can look at your whole situation and help you find the best path forward for you and your family.

We Are Here for You in Greensboro, Burlington, and the Triad

Our lawyers live and work here. You are our neighbors. We want to help.

We are proud to serve folks in:

• Greensboro
• High Point
• Winston-Salem
• Burlington
• Graham
• Asheboro
• Kernersville

When you’re looking for the best disability lawyer near me in the Triad, you’re really looking for a team you can trust. A team that will answer your calls. A team that will treat you with respect.

We are that team.

Your fight is our fight. You don’t have to go through this maze alone.

Key Takeaways: What to Remember

• It’s Not a Handout. SSDI is an insurance policy you paid for.
• Denial is Normal. 7 out of 10 people are denied the first time. Don’t give up!
• The Hearing is Your Best Chance. This is your only chance to talk to a judge, and you are 3 times more likely to win if you have a lawyer.
• The 5-Step Process is Everything. The SSA must follow these 5 steps. Our lawyers know how to win at each step.
• You Pay Nothing Unless We Win. There is no cost to hire us. We only get paid if we get you benefits.
• Medical Records are Key. The whole case is won or lost based on your medical records. We know how to get the right records to win your case.