Our Guarantee

We offer an unconditional 14 day money-back guarantee on our Professional Basic Training Program.  Why just the basic program?  Because it's the heart of our system and the only advocate training program we offer.  The Executive Program is made up of advanced operational materials, proprietary software and one-on-one support.  None of these Executive Program elements are recoverable once access has been granted.

Who should buy your training?

Our advocate training program is designed for those who wish to start and operate a fully independent advocacy service from home or office.  This is not a jobs program.  Our unique training and operational packages provide everything you need to create a self-sustaining business in the field of disability representation.

What is an Affiliate?

An Affiliate is an individual or company approved to sell our advocate training program.  When an Affiliate’s efforts generate a sale, that Affiliate is automatically paid a commission for the sale.  Offering our widely respected training program can be a lucrative secondary source of income that requires only modest effort.


What is a Disability Advocate?    

A Disability Advocate, also known as a Disability Consultant or non-attorney Representative, is a specially trained individual who assists people who are applying for Social Security disability benefits. 

What does an Advocate do?

The duties of a Disability Advocate involve the execution of both formal and informal procedures on behalf of an applicant for Social Security disability benefits.  These actions include, but are not limited to, assessing a prospective case to determine the approximate percent chance of winning, and the development of a case by requesting copies of the client's medical records. 

Who created disability advocacy?

The field of Disability Advocacy was created by Congress and is administered by the Social Security Administration. Thus, this is a legal and valid field with great potential for the educated Advocate.
 

Is this a work-at-home scheme?

Disability Advocacy is not a franchise, business opportunity or work-at-home scheme.  While our program does enable you to start and operate a business from home, it also has the added advantage of an existing infrastructure created and supported by Social Security.  The need for Disability Advocates is generated by the system and is not diminished by time or over-saturation as is true with most business opportunities.  These characteristics make Disability Advocacy as much a reliable career as it is an opportunity for you to own your own business.

Couldn't I learn this by reading the Federal Code?

Absolutely not!  The Federal Code of regulations is just that, regulations.  It is not designed to teach you the important fundamentals required to successfully represent a disability claim.  The regulations also do not address the important business and marketing aspects of this service that are essential for commercial success.

Do I work for Social Security?   

No.  As a Disability Advocate, you are self-employed. 
 

How do I qualify to be a Disability Advocate?  

CFR regulation 404.1705(b):  To qualify as a Disability Advocate, Social Security requires the following:

*  You must be of good character.
*  You cannot be a current Federal employee working with SSA.
*  You cannot have been disqualified to represent a client by SSA.
*  You must have the knowledge required to render valuable service.

Acquiring the knowledge needed to render valuable service to your clients is what our Disability Advocate training program is all about.  If you wish to be certified in this field, there are additional qualifications you must meet.

Do I need a degree to practice or to be certified?

You do not need a degree to practice as a Disability Advocate.  You also do not need a degree to be certified as a Disability Advocate.  There are websites claiming that you must have a degree, but these sources are simply incorrect.  The rules associated with the non-attorney direct pay program have changed.  Update.  For more information about advocate certification, visit CPS Human Resource Services at the Internet website address provided: http://www.cps.ca.gov/tlc/ssa/new.asp

Who Certifies Advocates?

Non-attorney Disability Advocates are currently certified by the Social Security Administration.  Please note that certification is an option and is not required to practice in this field.  For details on the requirements for entering the direct payment program, visit the CPS website listed above.

Will SSA cooperate with me?   

If you meet the SSA basic qualifications as a Disability Advocate, they have no choice! Social Security’s own regulations have made it possible for Advocates to assist those applying for disability benefits.  You can expect full cooperation from Social Security because your authority to represent comes directly from your clients and the Federal Code.

Will my advocacy service be independent?

There are companies that will employ you to represent cases for them.  Under a restrictive contract and in exchange for your hard work, you’ll be offered some type of fee sharing arrangement.  Not only is this approach less profitable for you, it may result in problems with the Social Security Administration.  Given the number of disability applicants, working for someone else makes absolutely no sense.  Fee sharing and other indirect payment schemes significantly reduce the income potential of this service and can potentially cause conflicts with the Social Security Administration.

What kind of background do I need?

No particular background or education is required in this field.  Our unique operational technique enables anyone to effectively review complex medical documentation without the need for formal medical training.  No matter what your background, our program can provide you with a new level of financial and professional satisfaction.

Examiner Based Training?

There is a firm offering training based on a single individual’s experience as a Social Security Examiner.  Examiners and other Social Security clerks are not qualified to offer training in this field.  In many states you can become an Examiner with little more than a high school diploma.   A Social Security Examiner is also not allowed to make an independent disability case decision.  All cases handled by Examiners must be reviewed by a medical specialist before the Examiner is allowed to complete a case.  Disability Examiners often lack the critical knowledge and outside advocate experience needed to help you succeed.  If the Social Security Administration itself won't allow an Examiner to make a solo decision, how wise would it be to entrust your training to a course based primarily on this background?  To learn more, visit the Security segment of our Website.

Aren’t all Advocate training programs basically the same?

Advocate training programs are not created equal!  The technical and operational approaches offered in our course are unique.  We offer an exclusive curriculum that is continually revised in order to keep our students at the cutting edge of this industry.  Our program also focuses on the important business, marketing, operational and income boosting aspects of this service that will help you succeed regardless of location, experience or level of competition. 

What about free training offers?

You and I both know that nothing is really free!  Sites offering free training will almost always require some type of payment somewhere along the line.  Acquiring training from a free source also requires that you relinquish your independence and share profits generated by your hard work. The free training approach also forces you to be dependent upon others and you'll never learn how to operate your own successful service. 

Fee sharing is also an important part of these so-called free training programs. The only way the free training source can generate income from free training is to take a significant portion of the income created by your hard work.  Not only is fee sharing frowned upon by the Social Security Administration, it also greatly reduces your income potential.  

The key to unlimited success as a Disability Advocate is independence!  Our course enables you to practice as an independent advocate without the strings and outside obligations associated with fee sharing schemes. You'll also be able to complete your training faster and you'll have unlimited access to our marketing resources at no additional charge. 

Innovation is Everything

As is true of most professions, success belongs to those who innovate.  Disability Associates is the only training source that continually seeks new ways of improving both the quality and effectiveness of our training and operational techniques.  Instead of copying other trainers, we focus on creating custom techniques based on real-life situations faced by Advocates on a daily basis.  No other training source can provide you with the depth of knowledge, business insights and unique operational software that we provide in our training packages.  
 

Do I have to meet with each client?   

Not if you use our approach!  Our program shows you how to practice in the most efficient way possible.  We do not recommend that our students meet with each and every client because to do so would be an inefficient way of doing business.   We also provide training in what we call remote representation.  These techniques enable you to accept cases from across town or across the country.

SSA told me that they help the claimant to apply?  

The Social Security Administration will help a claimant complete the application process, but it does not represent the specific interests of that claimant.  A Disability Advocate does represent the specific interests of the claimant and will actively seek to present the best case possible for Social Security's consideration.  This is a far cry from simply helping a person fill out forms. 

SSA said that they have never heard of Disability Associates.   

According to Social Security’s regulations, you are not allowed to represent a case under a company name.  Only an individual can represent another individual in the disability process.  Since we do not represent cases as Disability Associates, there is no reason for them to have heard of us. 
 

SSA told me that they have never heard of disability advocacy. 

Occasionally, you'll be told by a Social Security employee that they have never heard of Disability Advocacy.  If this occurs, don't panic!  Social Security refers to Advocates as non-attorney Representatives.  Use the term non-attorney Representative when contacting the Social Security Administration for information about this field.  Keep in mind that Disability Advocacy is the government's best kept secret and is not widely known or understood by many, including most Social Security employees. 

Is there a market for this service?  

Nationwide, there is an enormous untapped pool of potential customers desperately in need of sound representational services.  In addition to more than two million new applicants a year, there are literally hundreds of thousands of previously denied applicants seeking appeals.  Taken together, these sources represent a nearly inexhaustible supply of potential customers for your service.  Add to this the fact that the American population is aging and you can begin to understand the underlying demographics driving this industry.
 

Is there growth potential?  

You bet there is!  Due in large part to the aging of our population and the public's growing awareness of the Disability Program, a steadily expanding market is being generated that ensures the future of Disability Advocates for generations to come.

What about competition?  

Today, there are a growing number of both attorney and non-attorney Disability Advocates offering representational services to the general public.  Now more than ever, to compete successfully, you need the innovative marketing and operational techniques offered in our course.  Disability Associates is the only training source that can provide you with long-term, proven solutions to today's marketing challenges!  No matter what market you’re in - big city or small - our marketing techniques will enable you to beat the competition and consistently attract as many qualified customers as you desire.  See Marketing.

SSA told me that only attorneys can represent claimants.   

To represent a disabled client, you do not have to be an attorney or work for one!  If you did have to be an attorney, Social Security’s own rules for practicing as a non-attorney Representative would make no sense.  The Social Security Administration would not create rules and regulations for a service that does not exist!

Are we in competition with attorneys?

Attorneys practice law, we practice Disability Advocacy.  Our approach to both the business and practice of disability representation is very different from that of attorneys and most other advocates in the field.  We have also developed a totally unique method of evaluating disability claims that we call the “policy” or “common sense” approach to representation.  Our policy approach eliminates the need to perform time-consuming research, annotation and case modeling.  Our approach uses a logical case review system coupled with our exclusive case evaluation formula.  Our course is specifically designed to enable you to win more cases, faster with less work over a shorter period of time. 
 

Who can buy your training?

Most advocate trainers could care less who buys their materials.  These trainers will sell their products to anybody because they have nothing new or original to offer.  Disability Associates limits the sale of its operational materials to students only!   By limiting access to our materials, we keep our operational procedures proprietary.  We feel that it is important to protect our students by making sure that our procedures are not widely available to others.  This unusual sales policy helps to retain the inherent advantages of our custom approach to the practice of Disability Advocacy. 

Why would anyone pay me for this service? 

A disability applicant's benefits can exceed $1400 a month in tax free cash payments, plus assistance with medical and hospital costs that could exceed a million dollars in total benefits.  If you don't think this is motivation enough for a disabled person to seek your help, add the fact that Social Security’s own research shows that a person has a much greater chance of receiving benefits with representation.  Couple that with the ease and efficiency of our system and you have the ingredients for a highly successful advocacy service.

How much will I be paid?   

The actual amount paid for representing a disability case differs depending upon a number of case factors, including the onset of the impairment and the client's income history.  The average fee is approximately $2000 per case with a generous maximum fee potential of $6000.  

Who pays me?

You're paid by the client you represent under what is essentially a three-way contract between you, the client and the SSA.  The Social Security Administration also allows certified Advocates to be paid directly under their pilot program.  In order to be certified, you must be an experienced Advocate and pass Social Security’s certification examination.  Our program is specifically designed to prepare you for this optional examination.  But, we didn't stop there!  Within our Executive course, we also provide you with a very special software program called the Examination Primer.  If you're a poor test taker, this exclusive software will help you to prepare and improve your odds of passing the SSA's certification examination.

How do I protect my fee?  

Forget about collections, credit reports and all of that stuff.  Our exclusive fee protection techniques take ten minutes to implement and it doesn't cost you a dime!  Our approach to fee protection is especially important this year because SSA will not be offering the direct pay program in 2010.  Since we do not depend upon this expensive program to collect our fees, our students can proceed as usual.

Can a disabled person afford this service?  

The popular myth is that anyone applying for disability benefits is poverty stricken and unable to afford representation.  The reality is that the majority of applicants are no different than we are.  The average applicant is a working individual who, as a result of an acute injury or illness, is no longer able to sustain work.   By the year 2020, one in four Americans over the age of forty-five will fit this definition and will need the services of a professional Disability Advocate.
 

Are there other ways of earning income?

Yes!  In our Executive training program, you'll be introduced to two additional income generating processes that are directly related to disability representation.  These two processes are exclusive to our program and are only possible when using our custom techniques and business software.

What about my community?  

Every community in the USA is a potential gold mine for a professional Disability Advocate.   Our training program not only teaches you how to represent a disability claim, it also teaches you how to operate your service using proven business methods that maximize your chances for success.

Why couldn’t I find an Advocate in my community?

It's possible that there are no Advocates in your community.  Even if there are, an Advocate can only process a finite number of cases within a given period of time.  As a result, it’s rarely necessary for our Advocates to depend exclusively upon general advertising to attract customers.  This makes it possible for Advocates to be less visible in their communities while still enjoying maximum success.

How much capital do I need?

Because of our unique community based approach to marketing, most Advocates can start this service for less than $1000.  Once your community becomes aware of your ability to serve their representational needs, your advocacy service will virtually grow of its own accord.

Are there any additional fees?  

We are a representation, training and software development services company, not a franchise.  All payments associated with the representation of a client go directly to you.  We do not charge percentages, kick backs or franchise fees of any kind.

Is Disability Advocacy difficult?    

This service can be performed effectively by anyone with good reading and writing skills.  No prior experience is necessary beyond our course. 

Can I work from home?

Disability Advocacy is the perfect occupation for those who wish to work from home.  A home office has several advantages including low overhead, controlled scheduling and the opportunity to enjoy more leisure time with friends and family. Our training program assumes that you'll work from home and provides valuable information on how to operate successfully without jeopardizing your privacy or security.

How do I get customers?  

Other training firms provide generic marketing approaches created for services other than Disability Advocacy.  Disability Associates is the only training source that provides each student with a custom marketing strategy.  All of our marketing techniques are original and custom made!  Many of our techniques can be executed at no costs and can be used alone or in combination as a means of quickly attracting customers to your service.  Disability Associates also provides each student with free access to our National Client Referral Network.  Our Network will deliver high quality leads to your computer's desktop without the need for advertising. 

How long does it take to complete a case?  

Advocates who are not using our techniques have waited a year or more for a disability decision.  Many Attorneys in this field can take up to 3 years to complete a case.  In our opinion, waiting more than six months for a disability decision is ridiculous!  Our average case takes less than 120 days and some are completed within a few short weeks.  If you understand the internal mechanisms that drive the disability process you'll have no problems acquiring rapid decisions.  Our program provides custom solutions to these case bottlenecks, enabling you to do more cases in a shorter period of time.
 

How long does it take to complete the training?

We have had students complete our course in less than two weeks.  The average individual spending two or three hours a day on our materials will usually complete our program in less than thirty days.

How important is your software?

Our custom software is the result of years of operational refinement.  Each program is functionally dynamic and an integrated part of our training system.  Inside each program, you'll have access to both the functionality of the software and a complete training course in the operational processes that inspired its design.  All of our software is custom designed and is the product of many years of testing and refinement.  

Example:  Our Case Assessment Navigator software uses custom algorithms that are the result of thousands of case comparisons which accurately predict a specific case outcome.  The likelihood that a knock-off of our Navigator will provide the same level of accuracy is extremely low.  Settling for cheap knock-offs of our proprietary products and services will lower your profitability and reduce your chance for success.  

How important are your operational techniques?

Software alone will not guarantee your success in this business!   To succeed, you'll also need access to our exclusive business and operational techniques.  Our one-of-a-kind operational techniques are the bases upon which our software was created.  As important as our software is to your success, it would only provide a marginal advantage without our custom techniques.  To reap the maximum benefit, you must understand how each of our custom techniques is used within the process of representing a disability case. It's our exclusive operational techniques more than anything else that will assure your success in this field.

What is Executive Support?

Our Executive Support Service provides each student with a suite of professional software, advanced training and over 100 hours of direct telephone access to our experienced support staff.  Click here for details.

Is the course tax deductible?

Yes!  According to the most recent tax code, a company may deduct the costs of training as part of a new business start-up or as an ongoing business expense.  Check with your accountant to be sure that this deduction is appropriate for your tax situation.

What equipment do I need?

To operate a Disability Advocacy service, you’ll need a Windows PC with a CD-ROM drive, high-speed Internet access, a printer and a telephone. 

Do you provide references?

Yes we do!  For professional references, click here.  To speak directly with a student reference, make request via info@daincpm.net.     
 

How can I confirm the existence of this service?

Go to the Social Security web site and type in “non-attorney representative”.  The field of Disability Advocacy and all benefits attributed to it can be verified via the Social Security Administration or the Federal Code. 
 

Is this field really recession proof?

Social Security's statistics clearly show that dips in the economy are correlated with more disability benefit applications.  An increase in the number of disability applicants directly results in an increase in the number of potential customers available for your service.  It doesn't get any more recession proof than that!