If you have to go to a judge hearing, it's good to have a lawyer go with you for that. The "appeal form" that comes in the mail and has to be returned within a specific time is just for you to say that you don't agree with their finding that you're not eligible.

After you send that form back in, they will take another look at your case and usually ask for more medical information. If they deny you a second time, (it will be the same kind of form) you want to sign and return the appeal form for that also.

After two denials, the next step is to go before an administrative law judge. That is a Social Security employee, not a judge like a criminal court judge. That is when the lawyer would go with you.

You don't always have to go to a judge hearing. You may get approved on this next step. (I call that step 2.)

It's important when you get anything in the mail from Disability Determination Services to notice if it says you have to return something by a certain date, whether it's an appeal form or that long form that asks all the questions about your health problems and medical treatment.