Also called: Social Security Disability Advocate, SSDI Claimant Representative
Represents people applying for Social Security disability benefits at hearings, without being a lawyer.
These advocates gather medical records, help clients explain how their illness keeps them from working, and argue the case before a federal administrative law judge. Social Security lets qualified non-lawyers do this, and fees come from a capped share of back pay won.
Many start at advocacy firms; independent representatives earn per-case fees. Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience), then Social Security's eligible direct-pay non-attorney (EDPNA) exam.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Social Work, Paralegal Studies, Psychology.
Growing about average. Steady demand from disability claims backlogs.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI organizes medical records and drafts briefs; preparing clients and arguing at disability hearings stays human.
Classes: Biology or anatomy, Psychology, AP English Language, Health science class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 23-2099.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.