Are You Prepared for Your Hearing?
It
will take most people nearly a year to get their
Social Security Disability or SSI hearing scheduled
after they first apply. So there is plenty of time
to prepare for the hearing – and little excuse for
showing up either unprepared or without a lawyer.
Social Security hearings are conducted by Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) who expect those who come before them to have a solid grasp of what the disability adjudication process will be. You’ll be expected to understand how they make their decision, what it’s based on, and the hearing process in general.
Know the Five-Step Process
Begin with a basic understanding of the five-step process that is used in every Social Security Disability. Read more about that process on page XX. Remember, every hearing goes through each of the five steps, and you should be prepared to deal with any issue that arises at any step.
For example, if you are still working, then you need to understand the Step 1 issues related to working below substantial gainful activity (SGA), or the factors that determine an unsuccessful work attempt (UWA) after your onset date if your earnings were above SGA. Each step may bring issues to the judge’s attention depending on the facts of your case, and you need to be prepared with all of the answers and documentation.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Most disability lawyers hold a preparatory interview with their clients before the hearing, giving you practice in advance of the real hearing in how to answer questions. The prep also allows the attorney to dig deeper into the facts of your case, becoming even better prepared for the ALJ’s arguments and questions during the hearing.
Preparing for the hearing is such an overwhelming task that most ALJs suggest you engage an attorney. Why? While the hearing itself is informal, the process and rules are rigid and must be followed precisely for you to win. Take time to prepare yourself fully if you are confident enough to represent yourself. Or gain greater confidence by getting help from an experienced disability attorney.
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How to
Get More Help
We hope
the information linked to from this page will help you
regardless of where you are in the process. If
you have a question about your disability case that
you don’t find answered in the resources linked to
above, then contact us
here or give us a call at (800) 584-3700.
For more information on our attorneys, please visit Our Attorneys page.
For more information on Social Security Disability, please see:
Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) FAQs
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) FAQs
Social Security Disability Links
Social Security Glossary
