I too am sorry to hear your news.
I have went through that process once and denied at each step. When I got my denial from the ALJ, the attorney started a second claim right away. Well, I got denied again at the first two times and I am scheduled to see the ALJ in a week now.
My first claim is at the Federal court level....the attorney thought the first ALJ made some mistakes.
My credits have expired now, so it is now or never! and I think since the government has NO money, we are all being denied!