Attorney Partnership on USDC Appeals

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Your Client Doesn't Have to Stop at an Appeals Council Denial
Hiller Comerford handles federal district court SSD appeals for referring firms. You keep the client relationship. We handle the federal court work.

18+ Federal Courts Admitted

2+ Circuit Courts of Appeals

20+ Years Federal SSD Experience

No Fee Guarantee

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Submit your referral, and our team will review the case and respond within one business day.

There is no cost to refer a case. All inquiries are confidential.

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Who the Appeals Partnership Program Is For

Hiller Comerford partners with disability, personal injury, and general practice attorneys who need a federal Social Security Disability appeals partner after an Appeals Council denial.

Why Attorneys Refer Federal SSD Appeals to Hiller Comerford

Federal court is a different practice. Most firms don't handle it, and they shouldn't have to.

A federal Social Security Disability (SSD) appeal is not about deciding whether your client is disabled. Instead, the court reviews whether the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) made legal or procedural errors when issuing the decision. That distinction matters.

Cases that appear closed after multiple denials may still have strong grounds for appeal based on errors in the administrative record, and federal courts regularly remand or reverse cases on those grounds.

Common legal errors include:

  • Improper hypothetical questions to the vocational expert
  • Treating source opinions dismissed without adequate explanation
  • Boilerplate credibility analyses not tied to the evidence
  • Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) findings not supported by substantial evidence
  • Procedural failures in developing the administrative record

Many disability law firms are not equipped to handle federal district court litigation. That's why they partner with Hiller Comerford for experienced federal Social Security Disability appeals representation.

A Dedicated Federal Social Security Disability Appeals Team

Hiller Comerford partners with attorneys across the country to represent clients in federal Social Security Disability (SSD) appeals. Federal district court litigation is not an occasional part of our practice. It is a core area of focus, and we have the experience and infrastructure to handle these cases efficiently.

The partnership program is straightforward. You refer the case, we handle the federal district court appeal, and you continue serving your client. If you prefer to remain involved, co-counsel arrangements are also available.

  • 20+ years of experience handling federal SSD appeals
  • Attorneys who have clerked for federal judges and drafted Social Security decisions
  • Presenters at national NOSSCR conferences

Social Security Disability Benefits Awarded

$507,057.50

Benefits Awarded for Social Security Disability Case

$707,496.00

Benefits Awarded for Social Security Disability Case

$643,872.60

Benefits Awarded for Social Security Disability Case

$688,107.20

Benefits Awarded for Social Security Disability Case

Schedule all case results

*We’re proud of the results we’ve achieved for our clients, but past outcomes don’t guarantee future results. Every case is unique and evaluated based on its own specific circumstances. The total awarded benefit amounts shown are estimates that include both recovered backpay and projected monthly benefits.

How the Federal SSD Appeals Referral Process Works

Three steps. You maintain control throughout.

Step 1: Send Us the File

Share the administrative record and the ALJ or Appeals Council decision. If you have notes on what went wrong at the hearing, include those too.

Step 2: We Review the Case

Our attorneys review the record to determine whether viable federal legal issues exist. If we believe the case presents strong grounds for appeal, we'll explain why. If not, we'll tell you that too. There is no charge for this initial review, and we typically respond within one business day.

Step 3: We Handle the Federal Appeal

We file in US District Court, brief the legal arguments, and manage the federal process. You stay the client's primary contact. We work as co-counsel or on referral, per your state's bar rules.

Step 4: Build a Long-Term Referral Relationship

Most of our strongest referral partnerships grow from one case. Once you've seen how the handoff works, future denials have a clear, trusted path forward. We're built for repeat arrangements, not one-off referrals.

How Do Fees Work for Federal SSD Appeals Referrals?

We will make a motion to be paid from the Equal Access to Justice Act funds (EAJA), which is paid by the government. Our fee is contingent on winning, and your client does not need to pay us any money up front for representation.

Federal Court Admissions & Representative Decisions

Hiller Comerford is admitted to practice before 18 federal courts, including the Second and Third Circuit Courts of Appeals and the following U.S. District Courts:

W.D.N.Y. E.D.N.Y. S.D.N.Y. N.D.N.Y. E.D. Mich. W.D. Mich.
W.D. Pa. D. Mass D.N.J. D.D.C.
N.D. Ind. S.D. Ind. E.D. Wis. N.D. Ill. S.D. Ill.
N.D. Ga. M.D. Ga. W.D. Tex.

If your client’s case falls outside these courts, reach out. We can discuss options or make a referral to qualified counsel in that circuit.

Representative Case Results

  • Labaron C. v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 2026 WL 1009703 (E.D. Mich. Apr. 14, 2026)
  • James T. v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 774 F. Supp. 3d 635 (W.D.N.Y. 2025)
  • Teagen B. v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 2026 WL 860453 (W.D.N.Y. Mar. 30, 2026)
  • C.D. v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., No. 7:24-CV-122-WLS-ALS, 2026 WL 431161 (M.D. Ga. Jan. 27, 2026), report and recommendation adopted, 2026 WL 416919 (M.D. Ga. Feb. 13, 2026)
  • J.J. v. Comm’r, Soc. Sec. Admin., No. 1:22-CV-4376-CCB, 2025 WL 2902939 (N.D. Ga. Sep. 23, 2025)
  • Sean S. v. Dudek, No. 23-CV-16204, 2025 WL 672933 (N.D. Ill. Mar. 3, 2025)
  • Shawn R. v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., No. 3:23-CV-3438-MAB, 2024 WL 4708042 (S.D. Ill. Nov. 7, 2024)
  • Sczepanski v. Saul, 946 F.3d 152 (2d Cir. 2020)
  • Beers v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 449 F. Supp.3d 96 (W.D.N.Y. 2020)
  • Kennedy v. Saul, No. 19-267-E, 2020 WL 5775179 (W.D. Pa. Sep. 28, 2020)
  • Cook v. Berryhill, No. 17-cv-11764-IT, 2019 WL 5550532 (D. Mass. Oct. 28, 2019)
  • Molina v. Saul, No. 18cv04990(DF), 2019 WL 5287943 (S.D.N.Y. Sep. 28, 2019)
  • Williams v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 366 F. Supp.3d 411 (W.D.N.Y. 2019)
  • Higgins v. Saul, No. 16-27 (RBW), 2019 WL 4418681 (D.D.C. Sep. 16, 2019)
  • Ernestine v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 2019 WL 5410066 (N.D. Ga. Aug. 30, 2019)
  • Jackson v. Berryhill, 694 F. App’x 39 (2d Cir. 2017)
  • Abbott v. Colvin, 596 F. App’x 21 (2d Cir. 2015)
  • Draegert v. Barnhart, 311 F.3d 468 (2d Cir. 2002)

Frequently Asked Questions

Below, we answer common questions attorneys have about referring federal Social Security Disability appeals to our firm.

How do I know if a Social Security Disability case is worth referring?

You can send us the administrative record along with the ALJ or Appeals Council decision. Our attorneys review the file to identify potential legal errors under federal Social Security Disability law. We will let you know whether we see viable grounds for a federal court appeal. There is no cost for this review, and we will be direct if the case is not suitable for federal litigation.

How long does a federal Social Security Disability appeal take?

Most federal Social Security Disability appeals take approximately 12 to 24 months in federal district court, depending on the jurisdiction and case complexity. While this extends the timeline, it often provides a meaningful path forward after an Appeals Council denial.

If I send the case to your firm for the federal court appeal, can I still represent my client on remand?

Yes, we will handle the federal court appeal from beginning to end. When the case is remanded, we send the client back to you to handle the administrative proceedings. We know how hard you have fought for your client, and we spend as much time as necessary making sure the client understands how you have fought for them.

Can I send you a case that is lost at the hearing level, or do I have to send it after the Appeals Council review?

You can send us a case that has been lost at the hearing or at the Appeals Council. As you know, there is a high likelihood that the Appeals Council is not going to overturn the ALJ’s decision. We can take a case to the Appeals Council with a plan to continue to appeal if the Council denies review. We will still send the case back to you to handle the remand hearing.

What if I don’t want to handle the remand hearing?

We have the capacity to simply keep the case and handle it in-house when a new hearing is scheduled. In that case, you would become the referring firm.

Why should I appeal rather than just start a new claim for my client?

You can actually do both. Send us the lost case so that we can appeal it to the United States District Court, and at the same time, you can reapply for your client with a later onset date, as long as your client continues to be eligible for a program. This preserves your client’s fight for past-due benefits, while making sure he is still fighting for benefits at the administrative level.

Are there any other benefits to filing a Social Security Disability appeal?

We believe it is particularly important to consider appealing cases where the date-last-insured expired during the pendency of the claim. This is your client’s last chance to fight for SSD benefits. Appealing keeps the fight alive and should always be considered in these cases.

Ready to Refer a Federal SSD Appeal?

If you have a Social Security Disability case ready for federal court review, our team is available to evaluate it and provide a clear next step. Submit your referral, and we will review the file and respond within one business day.

No obligation. No cost to refer a case. All inquiries are confidential.

Contact our firm today
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