You were denied disability.
This app helps you to appeal your claim without a lawyer.
Equilibrium is a self-help toolkit for people appealing an SSDI or SSI denial on their own (“pro se”). Organize your medical evidence, document your consultative exam the day it happens, and prepare the documents an Administrative Law Judge reviews. Built by a former appellate attorney. Rafael does not practice law, does not represent users, and Equilibrium does not give legal advice.
Case study: one family's appeal, from denial to a fully favorable decision on the record (an “OTR” decision, made without a hearing). Every case is different, and no outcome is guaranteed.
About Our Fight
Built from a Real Disability Appeal
Equilibrium was built by Rafael A. Castro, III, a former appellate attorney, after his brother's disability claim was denied following a five-minute consultative exam. His brother represented himself, with Rafael's guidance, using SSA's own rules, and won a fully favorable decision on the record, without a hearing, including back pay. Their result does not predict yours; every claim is decided on its own medical evidence.
Equilibrium is self-help software for claimants who choose to handle their own appeal. It is not a law firm, it does not represent you, and it is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration (SSA). Rafael does not practice law, does not represent users, and Equilibrium does not give legal advice. Some people do better with a representative. Representatives' fees are approved by SSA, capped at 25% of back pay or $9,200, whichever is less, and usually paid only if the claimant wins.
Tools to Prepare Your Appeal
CE Defense Tracker (free)
Record what happened at your consultative exam the same day, in a dated record
Blue Book Listing Matcher (free)
Compare your medical evidence with SSA's Listing of Impairments
Evidence Tables for the hearing
Side-by-side tables comparing your evidence with the listing requirements
Grid Rule and Base-Erosion Calculators
Get a Grid Rules determination (i.e., a favorable or non-favorable finding) and prepare questions for the vocational expert who will most likely be present in any adversarial (ALJ) hearing.
Priced by Stage, Paid Once
No subscriptions. Buy the kit for the stage your appeal is in. A representative can take up to 25% of your past-due benefits, capped at $9,200. Equilibrium is a flat one-time price, with nothing taken from your back pay.
You do not need to buy anything to appeal. The Social Security Administration provides its appeal process and forms free of charge at ssa.gov, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or at any Social Security office. Equilibrium is independent software and is not affiliated with SSA.
Free
Know Where You Stand
$0
- CE Defense Tracker
- SSA's 5-step overview
- Blue Book Listing Matcher
- Grid Rule Calculator
After a first denial
Reconsideration Kit
$49 one-time
- Reconsideration deadline calculator
- Filing checklist (Forms SSA-561, SSA-3441 and SSA-827)
- New-evidence log
- Letter asking your treating doctor for a medical source statement
Preparing for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge
Hearing Kit
$149 one-time
$97 for the first 50 Founding Members
Checkout for the Hearing Kit is paused while we finish and review its tools. Request a seat and we will email you when it opens. Nothing is charged.
- Evidence Table Generator
- Medical-Source Persuasiveness Matrix
- Sedentary Base-Erosion Calculator and questions for the vocational expert
- Missing-Evidence Subpoena Generator
- Everything in the Reconsideration Kit
Sign in to buy the Reconsideration Kit or request a Hearing Kit seat. Every paid kit carries a 14-day, no-questions refund.