SSD Pitfalls: The Crazy Things that Happen in Social Security Disability and What To Do About Them – 2026 Spring National Conference – Track II (Presented by National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives)

Freddrick Effinger, Esq. | Effinger Law

Freddrick “Freddie” Effinger is a Social Security disability attorney with more than a decade of experience focused on the Social Security disability program. He spent the majority of his legal career working as an attorney for the Social Security Administration (SSA), where he developed extensive knowledge of the agency’s disability system and processes. After nine years with the SSA, he transitioned to private practice, representing clients in disability and related matters and building a practice dedicated to helping individuals secure benefits. Through his work, Freddie has helped clients obtain more than $1,000,000 in benefits and continues to focus his practice on Social Security disability representation through Effinger Law.

Education & Credentials

• Freddie Effinger earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2008 and previously received a Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College in 2005. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 2009 and is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.

Recognition & Leadership

• In addition to his legal practice, Effinger contributes to legal education as an adjunct professor teaching Disability Law. He has served in this capacity at Cumberland School of Law in Spring 2024 and at the University of Alabama School of Law in Fall 2023, sharing his experience in Social Security disability law with law students.

Professional Involvement

• Effinger is active in several professional organizations and legal networks. His membership includes the Birmingham Bar Association, the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR), and the Magic City Bar Association. He is also a registered mediator with the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution, reflecting his involvement in alternative dispute resolution and the broader legal community.

Experience

• Effinger’s professional experience includes service as an attorney with the Social Security Administration from September 2010 to November 2019, where he worked extensively with the federal disability program. He later practiced as an attorney at Friedman Law Firm from November 2019 to July 2021, before founding Effinger Law, where he serves as owner and attorney beginning in July 2021. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Deputy District Attorney with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office from January 2010 to September 2010. His practice focuses primarily on Social Security disability representation, including specialized matters such as overpayments and federal appeals.

I. SSD Pitfalls: The Crazy Things that Happen in Social Security Disability and What To Do About Them | 9:00am – 10:15am

This session will walk through some of the strangest, most frustrating, and most unexpected situations that arise in Social Security disability practice. From unusual procedural issues to bizarre case developments that seem to come out of nowhere, disability representatives inevitably encounter moments where the rules are unclear, and the path forward isn’t obvious. This session will highlight real-world pitfalls that occur in SSD cases and offer practical strategies for handling them effectively. Attendees will leave with helpful insights, problem-solving approaches, and a better understanding of how to navigate the unexpected when it arises in their own cases.