If you are denied, which is highly likely, you have to do an appeal. I swear they have a rubber stamp that says "Denied". I was denied four times. The second time I appealed and that was also denied. Finally after literally years of fighting this battle, I hired an attorney. If you go that route, their fee is paid out of any back payments you're owed. In my case, because it took sooooo long, I'm getting about $47,000, but they took out $6000 to pay the attorney. The case is argued by the attorney, though I sat next to him. If you apply and are adjudicated disabled the first time around - I've heard it does happen - that's all you do.