Diana Chaikin

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

ADA Medical Privacy Laws and Your Right to Confidentiality
Personnel records relating to disability must be kept confidential, with a few exceptions.
Can Children With Cerebral Palsy Get SSI Benefits?
Children with cerebral palsy can get SSI benefits if they have severe motor problems.
Getting Disability for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)
You'll have an easier time getting disability benefits for MCS if you have additional medical conditions.
Can You Get SSDI Disability or SSI for Osteoarthritis?
Social Security sometimes grants disability benefits when the pain and stiffness of arthritis severely limits an individual's mobility or use of the hands.
Can I Get Disability Benefits for Hashimoto's Disease?
Hashimoto's disease, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, is an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid. Hashimoto's disease is the most common form of hypothyroidism in North America and it most often affects women.
Getting Social Security Disability Benefits for Addison's Disease
Addison's disease can lead to serious heart and digestive problems, which can qualify for disability benefits.
Disability Benefits for Ilioinguinal Neuralgia
Ilioinguinal neuralgia can interfere with your ability to sit, stand, or walk at work.
Can You Get Social Security Disability for Allergies?
If your allergies cause severe breathing or skin problems and you need to work in a restrictive environment, you might be able to get disability benefits.
How to Fill Out the Application for Social Security Disability Insurance: Form SSA-16
Here are some tips on how to fill out the Application for Disability Insurance Benefits (SSDI).
Sample Witness Letters for Your Social Security Disability Hearing
Letters from caregivers, relatives, or former employers can help you win your disability case.
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