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470 reviews
Gary Social Security Disability Lawyers
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50+
Years Focused on
SSD Claims -
NOSSCR
National Board
Leadership - 2 Languages English & Spanish
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$0
Fee Unless
You Win
Free Case Evaluation
Why Gary Disability Claimants Trust Scully Disability Law
In Gary, many disability claims begin with a long work history in jobs that demand strength, stamina, concentration, or reliable attendance. Years spent in steel, manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, or other demanding work can make it especially important to show Social Security exactly what the job required and why your health no longer allows you to keep doing it.
Scully Disability Law has focused on Social Security Disability for more than 40 years. Our attorneys know how to translate a complicated work history and medical record into a claim that clearly shows what changed, what you can no longer do, and why that matters under Social Security’s rules.
Over 50 Years Of SSD Experience
Decades spent exclusively on Social Security Disability and SSI claims for Chicago and Chicagoland residents.
National Board Leadership
Our lead attorney serves on the Board of Directors of NOSSCR and formerly chaired the Chicago Bar Association’s Social Security Section.
Thousands of Hearings, One Client at a Time
We’ve represented claimants in thousands of hearings across Illinois, treating every new case with the same diligence as our first.
Accessible, Personal Service
You work directly with a dedicated Social Security Disability attorney throughout your case, not through a rotating call center.
You will meet with the attorneys who will represent you from start to finish. No meeting your lawyer for the first time at your hearing, a common occurrence with the national disability franchises. We are very accessible to our clients.
Thomas J. Scully III
Founding Attorney
How Our SSD Lawyers in Gary Help Through the Disability Process
Social Security does not look for the same thing at every stage of a disability claim. An application has to establish the basic medical and work picture. Reconsideration often turns on what the first decision missed. At a hearing, the judge may focus on inconsistencies, work history, credibility, or whether the medical evidence actually supports the limitations being claimed. Appeals after that become increasingly technical.
Knowing what deserves attention at each point is not something you learn from a checklist. It comes from handling these claims over and over. Our SSD lawyers in Gary, Indiana, bring decades of disability experience to your advantage. We can recognize what Social Security is likely to scrutinize next, and prepare your claim accordingly.
Preparing Your Initial SSDI Application in Gary
Social Security needs to understand both your medical condition and the way it affects your ability to function at work. That means treatment history, medications, symptoms, past jobs, and the specific activities you can no longer perform reliably.
Our role is to make sure the application gives SSA enough context to understand the claim. We help organize the medical and work information, identify details that should not be left vague, and make sure the limitations being described are consistent with the evidence supporting them.
Appealing an SSDI Denial at Reconsideration
A denial gives us something useful: Social Security’s reasoning.
We look at what SSA accepted, what it discounted, and what appears to have been missing or unclear. From there, the reconsideration appeal can be built around the actual weakness in the first decision, whether that means adding newer medical evidence, clarifying work limitations, correcting incomplete information, or addressing a conclusion that does not fit the record.
Preparing for Your Social Security Disability Hearing
A Social Security Disability hearing is often the first time the decision-maker can hear directly from you.
That changes the preparation. We go through the record with you, identify areas that may draw questions, explain what the judge is likely to want clarified, and help you prepare to discuss your symptoms, treatment, past work, and daily limitations accurately. Your attorney then represents you throughout the hearing and addresses issues that come up as the testimony develops.
Reviewing the ALJ Decision for Appeals Council Review
Once an Administrative Law Judge issues an unfavorable decision, the written ruling becomes the starting point.
We compare the judge’s findings with the medical evidence, testimony, vocational evidence, and applicable Social Security rules. If the decision overlooks something important, applies the wrong standard, or contains another issue that supports further review, we build the Appeals Council request around that problem.
Appealing a Social Security Disability Denial in Federal Court
If the administrative process has been exhausted, the case may move into federal court. Gary is in Lake County, so Social Security appeals from the area fall within the Hammond Division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.
At that point, the work becomes primarily legal. The court reviews Social Security’s final decision and the administrative record for legal error rather than hearing the disability claim again from the beginning. When federal review is appropriate, our attorneys can prepare the federal court appeal, develop the legal arguments, and handle the litigation on your behalf.
If you have just received a denial, the clock is already running. Social Security generally gives you 60 days from the date on the decision to request the next level of review, and missing that window can mean starting the claim over from the beginning. Once we have your notice, tracking that deadline becomes part of our job, not yours.
Not Sure Whether Your Gary SSD Claim Is on the Right Track?
A disability claim can be moving forward on paper while still missing something important. Maybe Social Security has not received key records. Maybe your work history was described too broadly or you have a denial and no clear sense of whether the problem can be fixed. During your free consultation, an SSD attorney can tell you where you stand and whether there is anything that should be addressed now.
Recent Case Results
Every claim is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. These examples show the kind of work we do at each stage of the process.
Scully Disability Law Gives You the Ability to Fight Back Instead of Giving Up
More than just a firm motto, this is our mission since the founding of our law firm, and we have the track record to prove it!
We work hand in hand with our clients and have been doing so for a very long time. It is difficult to find any other firm that has been practicing in this area longer than we have.
Thomas J. Scully III
Founding Attorney
What Are the Requirements for Social Security Disability in Gary, IN?
To qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) in Gary, you generally need two things: enough recent work covered by Social Security and a medical condition that meets SSA’s disability standard. For many adults, that means having worked roughly 5 of the last 10 years, although younger workers can qualify with less work history.
Social Security also looks at whether your condition has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months or result in death, and whether it prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activity. In 2026, SSA generally considers $1,690 per month to be the SGA level for a non-blind claimant.
Other parts of the disability analysis include:
- The severity of your condition. Your impairment must significantly limit basic work activities such as standing, walking, lifting, sitting, remembering, or concentrating.
- Whether your condition meets or medically equals a listing. SSA maintains a Listing of Impairments for conditions severe enough to satisfy the medical standard at that stage of the evaluation.
- What you can still do despite your condition. Social Security considers your remaining physical and mental abilities and compares them with the demands of your past relevant work.
- Whether another type of work is realistically possible. If you cannot return to your prior work, SSA may consider your age, education, work experience, and functional limitations when deciding whether you could adjust to other work.
For Gary claimants, a long work history can matter in two separate ways. It may help establish the work credits needed for SSDI, while the actual duties you performed help Social Security decide whether you could return to that work now. Those are related questions, but they are not the same one.
Our Gary Social Security Disability lawyers make sure the claim addresses both sides clearly: whether you are insured for SSDI and whether the medical evidence shows that you meet Social Security’s disability standard.
Can I apply for both SSDI and SSI? Yes, some people apply for and receive both programs at the same time. SSDI is generally based on your Social Security-covered work history, while Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is based on financial need. If your SSDI benefit is low enough and you meet SSI’s income and resource limits, you may qualify for both. Access our Supplemental Security Income (SSI) page for more information.
Our fees are strictly controlled by Social Security. We are prohibited by law from overcharging, and we are proud of never having done so.
Thomas J. Scully III
Founding Attorney
What Medical Conditions are Eligible for Social Security Disability Benefits?
Disability claims are not limited to a single type of diagnosis. Physical injuries, chronic illness, neurological conditions, and mental health conditions can all support a disability claim in Gary, as long as they are documented and severe enough to prevent sustained work.
A condition does not need to match Social Security’s Listing of Impairments word for word to qualify. Evaluators can also weigh the combined effect of several conditions together, and how symptoms such as pain, fatigue, or difficulty concentrating limit what someone can actually do on a regular basis. We help Gary clients pursue benefits for conditions like:
Musculoskeletal & Physical
- Degenerative disc & spine disorders
- Chronic pain conditions
- Arthritis & joint disease
- Fibromyalgia
- Injuries limiting mobility
Mental & Cognitive Health
- Depression & anxiety disorders
- PTSD
- Bipolar disorder
- Intellectual & developmental disabilities
- Cognitive decline & memory disorders
Systemic & Chronic Illness
- Cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes with complications
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- Cancer & treatment side effects
- Autoimmune disorders
- Respiratory conditions
Meet Our Attorneys
Attorney Thomas J. Scully III
Founder of Scully Disability Law, Thomas J. Scully III has dedicated more than 40 years to helping individuals pursue Social Security Disability benefits. A Vietnam Veteran and former Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Social Security Law Committee, he brings extensive experience representing claimants at disability hearings and throughout the appeals process. He is committed to providing personal, compassionate representation to every client he serves.
Attorney Michael DeYoung
Michael DeYoung has spent the majority of his legal career representing Social Security Disability claimants throughout the disability process, including hearings, Appeals Council reviews, and federal court appeals. A Northwest Indiana resident, he understands the challenges faced by individuals seeking disability benefits and provides direct, attorney-led representation focused on achieving the best possible outcome for each client.
Client Testimonials
When a claim affects your income, your health, and your sense of stability, the way your legal team treats you matters. Our clients often value having attorneys who are accessible, straightforward, and personally familiar with the details of their case.
I am an Illinois attorney with over 40+ years of litigation practice so I know great lawyers when I have experiences with them. I referred a case to Tom Scully and have met with him on multiple occasions. He is forthright, clearly a renown expert in disability law, and he and his staff were a pleasure to work with. He and his staff gave me an assessment of the case that was straightforward given the bureaucracy and delays caused by the process.
In the end he was very successful in getting a great result. He is my top go-to lawyer for these types of cases.
Timothy Daw
5.0I cannot thank Attorney Michael DeYoung and the entire staff enough for everything they did to help me through my disability case. From the very beginning, they treated me with kindness, compassion, respect, and patience during one of the most stressful times of my life.
I highly recommend this law firm to anyone needing help with a disability claim. They truly care about their clients and go above and beyond for the people they represent. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.
Christine Graf
5.0I think that everyone was very nice and went above and beyond for us! They kept in contact with us and was always there to answer all questions! Michael DeYoung was amazing with my husbands case! The staff is amazing! I would recommend this law firm to everyone that needs help with their case! Thank you for all your help Michael you did a great job for us!
Tami Hubbard
5.0I am very grateful for the entire staff at attorney Scully’s office. Their professionalism and empathy speaks volumes to clients they represent. If you or a loved one needs their assistance they help you every step of the way. I truly can’t say enough good things about this law firm
Sarah Kuechenmeister
5.0Social Security Disability Representation for Gary and Central Lake County
Scully Disability Law represents claimants in Gary and nearby communities throughout Lake County, including Lake Station, Hobart, Merrillville, and Griffith. We can meet you by phone or video whenever travel is difficult, and in person at our nearby Highland office if you prefer that.
Your first consultation with an SSD lawyer at Scully Disability Law is free.
Highland Office
- 9105-A Indianapolis Boulevard, Suite 102, Highland, IN 46322
- (219)419-4497
- contactus@scullydisabilitylaw.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Read answers to the most common questions we hear from SSD applicants in Gary. If you can’t find yours, we always ready to help with personalized guidance.
Gary’s Social Security field office is at 808 South Lake Street, so local residents can apply through the office, online, or by phone. Whichever route you choose, our Social Security Disability attorneys in Gary can review what you are submitting beforehand, since small gaps in a first application often turn into a denial that could have been avoided. That review is part of a free consultation.
Save the denial notice and bring it to us before deciding anything else. For a Gary claimant, that notice becomes the starting point for figuring out what Social Security thought was missing, whether that was stronger medical evidence, a clearer description of your work limitations, or proof that you could not return to your past work. You generally have 60 days after receiving the notice to appeal, and Social Security normally assumes you received it five days after the date on the notice.
There is no separate processing timeline just for Gary. How long your claim takes depends much more on the stage of the case, how quickly medical evidence is obtained, whether SSA orders additional examinations, and current agency backlogs. Initial decisions commonly take several months, while reconsideration and a hearing can add considerably more time. Our part is keeping the pieces we control moving so your claim is not unnecessarily delayed.
Lake County hearings are handled through Social Security’s Valparaiso hearing office, and hearings may be held in person, by telephone, or by video. An Administrative Law Judge reviews your file and asks about your medical history, symptoms, and past work, sometimes alongside a vocational or medical expert. We prepare you for the specific questions likely to come up and represent you throughout, so the hearing is not the first time you have thought through how to answer them.
Sometimes, depending on how much you are earning. Social Security measures this against the substantial gainful activity threshold, but the details of the work matter too: reduced hours, missed shifts, lighter duties, or extra help from coworkers can all be relevant even when your earnings are below the SGA limit. Tell us about those changes rather than assuming they do not matter.
Only a small share of claims get that far. Most are decided through reconsideration, a hearing, or Appeals Council review without ever reaching a courtroom. If a case does proceed to federal court, Lake County claims fall under the Hammond Division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, and the judge reviews the existing record for legal error and whether Social Security’s findings are supported by substantial evidence, rather than hearing the case again. Our attorneys can represent you through the federal appeal, prepare the legal arguments, and handle the court filings on your behalf.
Nothing upfront. Gary clients can speak with Scully Disability Law during a free first consultation, and we only get paid if we win your claim. Under Social Security’s standard fee-agreement process, the fee is generally capped at the lesser of 25% of your past-due benefits or $9,200, and Social Security must approve it before we can collect it.
Separate costs, such as fees charged by a hospital or medical provider in Gary or elsewhere in Lake County to release records, are not part of that cap. We will explain those during your first consultation so you know what to expect from the start.
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