Definitely wait for an attorney before filing the appeal. Things happen fast (ha, in the wrong way) and if you miss easy-to-miss deadlines, you'll be denied again. They make it byzantine to eliminate more people. I'm not saying it's impossible to do alone. But unless you're very detail oriented and just unusually good at this kind of thing, it's really hard. Plus, there are little things that the advocates know that we just cannot know, not rules so much, just little things, including knowing how the local SSA office operates. Yes, I figured you might be doing this all by email. I just didn't want my post to get any longer or clunkier by adding "or emailing" a bunch of times. You know, since the case I was involved with never meant us having to go in front of a judge, I don't really know how much latitude they have. I mean, there's theoretical reality -- you *could* do some kind of work that doesn't involve speaking. But in real reality, there are extremely few jobs like that. Plus, your problem has been people not hiring you after an interview. I'm not sure the 911 thing holds up myself. They do know where you are without you telling them....you could have to call 911 at any point, on a job or not. What I am saying is, you're making me think about this in a somewhat different way. As far as I'm concerned, you have a completely legitimate claim (at least at this time; as I said before, I'm not as sure about your future as you are; I believe it's possible that your situation/condition could change; regardless, we are talking about NOW). But I guess I can see someone arguing that, since, theoretically, your disability does not disqualify you from every single existing job, that you should not qualify for benefits?? But I'm out of my league now. What I do know is that you must proceed as though you *are* effectively unable to work. Though, it'd be a good disability attorney/advocate who would know what must be emphasized/proven in an appeal. There are various factors here, yeah? Broadly two -- 1) You have not been able to get a job despite good faith effort; 2) The vast majority of jobs you *might* be offered would not be possible for you because of your disability. #1 Would normally be a discrimination problem, not proof in itself of a disability severe enough to prevent you from working. So, it seems that #2 is the thing that would have to be demonstrated. Yeah, you need to find someone! Write again to that nicer person. Can't hurt, can it? And keep writing to people. For this same friend I have been talking about, I once took on looking for a potential treatment for him. It was a radical "underground" treatment because it is not FDA approved. I was told in several charming ways that I'd "never" find a way. Well....250 handwritten letters later, I did find a way. I'm not saying it will take you 250 emails! No no no! (Mine were handwritten because of the nature of what I was asking for; people were scared of answering me by email.) I'm just saying please don't give up or do it yourself before you've contacted everyone you can. No responsible lawyer or advocate is going to guarantee that they will win. But there is probably *someone* who will try for you. You just have to find him or her. This got long. I was thinking out loud, so to speak. Please let me know what happens.