Understood Care
An advocate on your side, from application to decision.
Wherever your claim stands today, an advocate can pick it up from there:
Build a complete claim from day one.
Learn more Needs-based benefits, no work history required.
Learn more A denial isn't the end. Appeal stronger.
Learn more Walk into your hearing fully prepared.
Learn more Answer a few quick questions about your work history, health, and where your claim stands. It takes about two minutes, and there is no obligation.
Your advocate organizes medical records, prepares forms, tracks SSA deadlines, and coordinates with your doctors — so nothing falls through the cracks while your claim is pending.
From approval letters to appeals, your advocate stays with you until your claim is resolved — and keeps helping with Medicare and care questions after that.
For quite some time, I felt alone, like nobody cared. My daughter often told me to handle everything over the phone, but I’d spend hours on hold, only for the calls not to go through. It was incredibly frustrating, as I’m sure you understand. Thank you for being there and for your kindness.
I am SOOOOOOOO impressed so far w/ y’all!!! Thank u so much!!!! Ive already told a heck of a lot of patients!!!!! So, hold yr saddle up!!! Yr about to get a LOT of Apple!!!!!
Absolutely wonderful service! Glad to put a face to my advocate, Amanda, who has been invaluable to me. Thank you, Amanda!
You paid into Social Security. When health makes work impossible, you should
not have to fight the paperwork alone. Answer a few questions and we'll show
you what your next step looks like.
Nothing. We don't charge anything for this service — we only get paid if you get paid. If your claim isn't approved, you owe us nothing, and we explain exactly how our fee works, in plain language, before any work begins.
Your advocate helps you build the file SSA actually approves: confirming which program fits your situation, organizing medical records, requesting the right documentation from your doctors (like a Residual Functional Capacity report), tracking every deadline, and making sure forms such as the SSA-827 medical release are complete before they stall your claim. One advocate stays with you through the whole process.
Initial SSDI decisions commonly take several months, and claims that go to a hearing can take a year or more. The single biggest thing you can control is filing promptly with a complete, consistent file — SSA itself advises not to delay your application while gathering medical records. An advocate keeps the pending period productive so requests from SSA never sit unanswered.
Yes. Only about 36% of SSDI applications are approved initially, so a denial is the most common outcome — not the end of your claim. We help you understand why the denial happened, gather the missing evidence, and prepare a stronger reconsideration request or get ready for the hearing stage. Appeal windows are short, so reach out as soon as the denial letter arrives.
Not always. Many claims succeed at the application or reconsideration stage with strong documentation and no attorney. When a situation genuinely calls for one — like an ERISA appeal against a private insurer or representation at an ALJ hearing — we will tell you honestly and help you find the right specialist, including SSA-approved representatives who work on contingency.
Understood Care is a private patient-advocacy company. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Social Security Administration or any other government agency. We never charge for official government forms, which are available for free from SSA.gov; our advocacy service costs nothing unless your claim is approved. Free help is also available through SHIP counselors at 1-877-839-2675 and SSA-approved representatives.
