Denise S. Terry | | Social Security Disability
how apply social security disability benefits

If you have an injury or illness that is going to keep you out of work, filing for Social Security Disability benefits may be a good option for you. The initial application for disability benefits is filed online and requests personal and financial information, as well as 15 years of work history. A separate portion of the application called a Disability Report is also filed online. This portion covers any health care providers you have treated, dates of medical treatment, tests, and medications.

The local Social Security Office will process your initial application and seek additional information from you to process your claim. They will also verify that you are not working or have reduced your work to below the allowable earnings level.

Many people wonder if you have to hire a lawyer to file for Social Security Disability benefits. While you do not have to hire a lawyer to file an application, it is strongly recommended. Filing the initial application can be very complicated and overwhelming if you are not familiar with the process. Most importantly, if steps are done incorrectly, or information is missed, it can affect the decision on your claim and possibly whether or not you are awarded your benefits.

Contact a Terry Law Firm Attorney Today

The Terry Law Firm handles disability claims from filing the initial application to appealing cases to the Appeals Council or Federal District Court.

Author: Denise S. Terry, Esq.
Denise S. Terry, Esq.

Attorney Denise S. Terry has been an integral part of The Terry Law Firm since 1982, when she began working with her late father, Charles Terry. Her law practice concentrates on criminal law, personal injury, Social Security disability, and wills and estates. She argued several reported appellate cases before the Tennessee Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.

Denise has received professional honors from numerous organizations. Most recently, she was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for 2026 in the category of Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs. She received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Walters State Community College in 2021.

Denise’s extensive community involvement includes serving as a Director of The Andrew Johnson Bank and previously serving as the President of the Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce. She dedicates time and effort to numerous civic organizations, such as Alps Adult Day Services, the Helen Ross McNabb Center, and HC Excel.

Denise earned her law degree from Nashville School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee. She is licensed to practice law in Tennessee and before the U.S. District Court and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Admitted to Tennessee Bar: 1987
Years of Legal Experience: 39
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®: 2015-Present