Diana Chaikin

Attorney · Seattle University School of Law

Diana Chaikin is a legal editor specializing in disability law at Nolo. She started writing articles as a freelancer in 2021 and joined the staff in 2022. Diana has worked as a solo practitioner based out of Seattle representing claimants before administrative law judges in Social Security disability hearings.

Education. Diana received a B.A. in Political Science from New York University and a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law, where she served as article editor on the Seattle Journal for Social Justice. During law school, Diana interned at the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska and Corbis Corporation. She also wrote an article on the Visual Artists Rights Act and how it pertains to outsider artists.

Disability experience. Fresh out of law school, Diana worked as Attorney Advisor for the Social Security Administration Office of Hearings Operations (formerly Office of Disability Adjudication and Review). While there, she worked for several administrative appeals judges to ensure disability decisions met the administration’s standard for quality. She then decided to work on the other side of the bench, successfully representing disability claimants for over 10 years before coming to Nolo.

Goals and interests. Diana finds satisfaction in making complex areas of the law seem intuitive to nonlawyers. She is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR), and is on the board of the Washington Lawyers for the Arts.


Articles By Diana Chaikin

Psychological Evaluations for Social Security Disability
Learn about the different types of mental status and psychological evaluations there are for Social Security disability.
How to Write a Supporting Letter for a Family Member, Friend, or Employee's Disability Claim
Here are some sample witness letters for friends, relatives, and former employers to support a disability claim.
How to Win Social Security Disability Without a Lawyer
Here are some things you need to know if you decide to brave the Social Security process without a disability lawyer.
How Much Will I Get in SSI Disability Benefits?
The amount of your monthly SSI check will depend on whether you're single or married, live alone or with others, and have other income or not.
Getting Social Security Disability Benefits After Age 60
Winning a disability claim generally gets easier for people as they get older—especially for people over the age of 60.
What Does Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Mean for Social Security?
Substantial gainful activity is the level of work that a person without a disability can do.
Reasons You May Be Denied Social Security Benefits
How to tell whether your claim for SSDI or SSI disability benefits will be denied or approved.
Income and Asset Limits for SSI Disability Eligibility
To get disability benefits from SSI, you can't have much income or assets, though Social Security gives you some breaks when counting your income.
How to Write a Stressor Statement for a PTSD Claim for Veterans Disability Compensation
Documenting your PTSD properly is key to winning a claim for veterans disability compensation.
Social Security Disability Benefits for Degenerative Disc Disease
If your DDD results in work restrictions that rule out all jobs, you can qualify for disability benefits.