What to Expect at Your Upcoming Social Security Hearing

If the Social Security Administration (SSA) denied your initial application for disability benefits, you can appeal. If the SSA grants your appeal, you are entitled to a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to better prove your claim for Social Security Disability benefits.

If you were denied benefits and need to appeal (or in the process of appealing), you are strongly encouraged to get help from a disability attorney during this complicated appeals process. An attorney like Honolulu disability attorney Danielle Beaver can help prepare you for you hearing by gathering your medical evidence, reviewing your work history, working with medical experts to testify on your behalf and working with you to prepare you for your hearing.

Disability attorneys often see how intimidating, scared and nervous claimants are before their hearing. If you have a hearing scheduled and don’t know what to expect, Danielle Beaver can help you prepare for you upcoming hearing.

Appearing Before a Social Security Administrative Law Judge

The hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) may seem overwhelming if you think about standing before a judge. But this isn’t like the judges you see on TV. All the ALJ just wants to do is learn more about your medical conditions and how they affect your ability to work. The best and most important thing you can do is be honest.

Your hearing will most likely take place in one of Hawaii’s Social Security offices. You must be present at your hearing. The ALJ will also be there along with your attorney (if you’ve hired one). Additionally, the SSA and your disability lawyer can request vocational and/or medical experts to testify. A disability lawyer can make a big difference at this stage by making sure you’re prepared and have all of your evidence ready before your hearing.

At your hearing, you (and your attorney if you have one) get to present your evidence before the ALJ who will issue a ruling. Most disability cases are won at the hearing stage. The ALJ will ask how your medical conditions (whether physical or mental) affect your daily life — especially your ability to work. You may be questioned about how long you can stand, how much you can lift, any pain you experience throughout the day and other questions relating to your physical or mental condition.

Make Sure You Work with a Disability Attorney

Call a disability attorney if you need help preparing for your hearing. But make sure the person you choose to help you is actually an attorney and not a representative or an advocate. Only disability lawyers are trained in the law and are licensed by their state bar association. If you’re unsure if you’re speaking with an attorney, representative or advocate, ask them. It doesn’t cost you more to choose a lawyer over an advocate or other representative since any fees you owe an attorney come out of your back benefits.

One thing to keep in mind is that most claimants win benefits when they work with a disability lawyer — this is according to the SSA’s own data.

The Most Important Thing You Can Do During Your Hearing Is This:

Be honest.

There’s no need for you to be intimidated or scared when answering questions during your hearing. The ALJ just wants to learn more about your disability claim and how your medical conditions affect your ability to work.

If you have a hearing scheduled or need to appeal your disability denial, call a disability lawyer right away for help. The entire process to win benefits can be a long one and it can get frustrating. Don’t risk losing your disability case by doing everything by yourself. And remember, you have a strict deadline of 60 days to file an appeal from the date you receive your denial letter.

Honolulu disability attorney Danielle Beaver can help prepare your case, gather your medical evidence, analyze your Social Security file, prepare your testimony, make helpful legal arguments, question witnesses, and cross-examine any medical and/or vocational experts who testify at your hearing.

If you need help preparing for your upcoming hearing, give Danielle a call at 855.873. 2604 for a free consultation. Whether you’re applying for the first time or were denied, let Danielle help with your disability claim.