Welcome to Chihak & Gustad

Our Mission

Obtaining disability benefitsYou can get disability benefits if you: are under full retirement age, have enough Social Security credits and, have a severe medical impairment (physical or mental) that’s expected to prevent you from doing "substantial" work for a year or more, or have a condition that is expected to result in death. can seem like a hopeless task. Social Security personnel can be cold and unhelpful. You are asked to complete complicated forms and supply information you may not have. The process can drag on and on, and at the end there is still a chance your claim will be denied. But you should not give up hope. With the right legal representation, there is still a very good chance your claim can be approved. Social Security's own statistics show that a claimant has a better chance of getting approved when they are represented by an attorney.

Chihak & Gustad is a law firm dedicated to helping people obtain the disability benefitsYou can get disability benefits if you: are under full retirement age, have enough Social Security credits and, have a severe medical impairment (physical or mental) that’s expected to prevent you from doing "substantial" work for a year or more, or have a condition that is expected to result in death. they deserve.

We are compassionate attorneys who believe in you and your claim. We are also determined advocates who will challenge the bureaucracy and work to achieve an approved claim for you.

We Understand the System

Chihak & Gustad has helped thousands of people obtain Social Security DisabilityAn impairment that qualifies as a disability under Social Security Administration (SSA) guidelines must be quite serious. The impairment must render the applicant unable to perform any substantial gainful activity — that is, the applicant must not be able to earn more than a minimum amount of money, determined each year by the SSA. The impairment must completely disable the applicant from working. It must be expected to last for a year, have already lasted a year or be expected to cause the applicant's death. But this is not the end of the qualifying tests. (SSDYou can get disability benefits if you: are under full retirement age, have enough Social Security credits and, have a severe medical impairment (physical or mental) that’s expected to prevent you from doing "substantial" work for a year or more, or have a condition that is expected to result in death.) and Supplemental Security IncomeA Federal supplemental income program funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes). It helps aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income by providing monthly cash payments to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. (SSIA Federal supplemental income program funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes). It helps aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income by providing monthly cash payments to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.) benefits. We understand the claims system and how to overcome the many roadblocks that stand in the way of a claim approval.

We represent people at all stages of the process — from initial application to appeals in federal District Court. Our experience enables us to identify potential problems regarding claims and take the necessary steps to overcome those problems.

Our goal in your case will be to obtain the disability benefitsYou can get disability benefits if you: are under full retirement age, have enough Social Security credits and, have a severe medical impairment (physical or mental) that’s expected to prevent you from doing "substantial" work for a year or more, or have a condition that is expected to result in death. and medical coverage that can help you live a better life.

We Will Stand Up for You

Chihak & Gustad has a network of doctors and medical specialists who can provide the records and opinions that support your case. We also know how to use this information to challenge the assertions of the Social Security Administration's doctors and vocational experts. This includes challenging cases involving chronic pain and other hard to measure symptoms.

Throughout the process, we will work to keep your claim on track and keep you informed of developments in your case.

Chihak & Gustad will be with you all the way. We want to help you obtain the benefits that you need and deserve.

Contact a Disability BenefitsYou can get disability benefits if you: are under full retirement age, have enough Social Security credits and, have a severe medical impairment (physical or mental) that’s expected to prevent you from doing "substantial" work for a year or more, or have a condition that is expected to result in death. Lawyer

For a free initial consultation with Chihak & Gustad call toll free (888) 723-4141 or send us an e-mail.

Our office is located in downtown Seattle, just a few blocks from the Office of Adjudication and Review, where all decisions are made at the Hearing level. Our central location is conveniently accessible by bus from locations throughout the Puget Sound area. Click here to see bus schedules.