The Role of Nonattorney Representation in the SSDI Determination Process: A Case Study of One Prominent Intermediary

Abstract

Intermediary organizations that provide nonattorney representation services to people applying for Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits are a prominent but understudied part of the disability landscape. A better understanding of these intermediaries and their clients can help to inform policies that influence the extent to which intermediaries support or impede SSA’s disability determination processes. This article describes how one prominent nonattorney intermediary screens potential clients and supports actual clients throughout the application process for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. We describe the intermediary’s operations and the characteristics of its clients and compare the characteristics and outcomes of the intermediary’s awardees with all SSDI awardees. Our findings point to one important avenue through which people enter SSDI and suggest some policy options that could improve the entry process and identify employment supports that might serve as alternatives to SSDI.