• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

Has your disability claim been wrongfully denied or terminated? Call us today for help!  (888) 321-8131

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

National Disability Law Firm | Ortiz Law Firm

We appeal wrongful long term disability insurance and Social Security Disability denials.

  • ABOUT US
    • Our Team
    • Our Results
    • Areas We Serve
    • Core Values
  • PRACTICE AREAS
    • Initial Application
    • Request for Reconsideration
    • Hearing Before an Administrative Law Judge
  • RESOURCES
    • Top 10 Mistakes That Will Destroy Your Social Security Disability Claim
    • Physical RFC Form
    • Mental RFC Form
  • BLOG
  • Search
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Team
      • Nick Ortiz
      • Jessica Ortiz
      • Dawn Keller
      • Tory Nelson
      • Sarah Palag
    • Core Values
    • Our Results
      • Why Choose Ortiz Law Firm
      • What Our Clients Say
      • Testimonials
  • PRACTICE AREAS
    • Long Term Disability Claims
      • Administrative Appeals
      • Lawsuits
      • Lump-Sum Settlement Offers
      • Qualifying Conditions
      • Disability Insurance Companies
      • Qualifying Occupations
      • Case Summary Archives
      • FAQs
    • Social Security Disability Claims
      • Initial Application
      • Request for Reconsideration
      • Hearing Before an Administrative Law Judge
      • Qualifying Conditions
      • FAQs
    • Personal Injury Claims
      • Car Accident Claims in Pensacola, Florida
      • Bicycle Accident Claims in Pensacola, Florida
      • Motorcycle Accident Claims in Pensacola, Florida
      • Truck Accident Claims in Pensacola, Florida
      • Slip & Fall
      • Insurance Companies
      • FAQs
  • AREAS WE SERVE
  • RESOURCES
    • Top 10 Mistakes That Will Destroy Your LTD Claim
    • Top 10 Mistakes That Will Destroy Your SSD Claim
    • Lump Sum Disability Settlement Calculator
    • Physical Residual Functional Capacity Form
    • Mental Residual Functional Capacity Form
    • Ultimate LTD Appeal Checklist
    • LTD Case Study: Fibromyalgia
    • Top 10 Mistakes That Will Destroy Your FL Car Accident Claim
  • BLOG
    • Long Term Disability
      • Eligibility for Long Term Disability Claims
      • Medical Eligibility for Long Term Disability Claims
      • Your Chances of Getting Approved for Disability Benefits
      • Long Term Disability Denials and Appeals
      • Additional Parts Of A Claim That Do Not Happen in Every Case
    • Social Security Disability
    • Personal Injury
  • REFER A CASE
  • Search
  • CONTACT

Mobile Menu

Schedule A Free Consultation Now!

Find out how our law firm can help you win your case or you don’t pay a cent.

(888) 321-8131

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Hearing Before an Administrative Law Judge

What is a Hearing Before an Administrative Law Judge?

A hearing is a second appeal that you can file within the Social Security Administration’s appeal process. It follows a reconsideration denial or a reconsideration decision that was only partially favorable. At a hearing, an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) hears your case.

You will testify as to your level of impairment due to your medical conditions. This is your chance to give voice to your claim.

You and your attorney can also call and question witnesses, cross-examine witnesses that the judge calls and submit depositions.

Social Security disability hearings do not last as long as you may think.  Most are typically short and can last anywhere from 5 minutes to over an hour. Many SSD claimants mistakenly believe that their hearing will be similar to a civil court jury trial. However, ALJ hearings tend to be more  informal than that and are supposed to be non-adversarial (non-confrontational). In fact, disability lawyers usually advise their clients to dress for their hearing as they would normally dress going out to dinner with some friends (but no hats, tank tops, or revealing clothing), and not as they might dress for a job interview.

Even though the hearing is informal, the judge is likely to be wearing a black robe and sitting on an elevated platform. Hearings typically take place at the nearest SSA Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (“ODAR).  However, depending on how far away the applicant lives from the ODAR hearing office, the “hearing site” may take place at your local SSA District Office, in a conference room at a nearby hotel, or in a conference room at a local governmental office.

These days, the hearing may also take place via video conferencing (although you have the right to request an in-person hearing).

A vocational expert (VE) will usually be at your hearing, as well as a court reporter. Sometimes there will be a medical expert there as well. You can also bring witnesses to testify to your limitations.

More people are approved at hearings than at reconsiderations and one of the reasons is that the judge, who is the decision maker, sees you and hears about your medical condition directly from you.  For more information about disability hearings, please visit our Social Security hearings video collection.

Your Testimony at The Hearing

The court reporter will swear you in, along with the Vocational Expert (“VE”), and any other witnesses. The judge may begin by asking you questions about your educational history, your past work and your limitations. Once the ALJ has finished his or her questions, the Judge will allow your attorney to ask you additional questions to further develop the claim.

Once you are done testifying, the ALJ will ask the VE hypothetical questions about what jobs someone like you with your limitations could do. For additional information on VE testimony, read our article on the importance of vocational expert testimony at hearings.

General Tips

The hearing is short and you have waited a long time for this moment, so be sure to arrive to the hearing site on time. ALJs typically schedule 4-8 hearings to take place back-to-back on hearing days.  An ALJ  may decide not hear an applicant’s case if the applicant shows up too late for his or her hearing. How late is too late will depend upon the individual ALJ in question and how densely packed his or her hearing schedule is for the day. Generally speaking, arriving more than ten minutes late will be enough for an ALJ to refuse to hear a claimant’s case. As such, you should always try to arrive at the hearing site at least 30 minutes prior to the start of a hearing to get properly situated.

If you do arrive too late for a hearing, you will be issued an “order to show cause” notice and asked to explain why you were late. Your explanation is commonly called a “Good Cause Statement”. Providing an acceptable reason for appearing late (extreme traffic problems, unforeseen car problems, or getting hopelessly lost) may convince a judge to reschedule your hearing to a later date.

Facebook0Tweet0Pin0LinkedIn0Print0Email0

Primary Sidebar

View All Social Security Disability Resources


Rosita T.

One of the best lawyers I have ever met, that is caring, concern, understanding, stay in touch as much as he can. He is an overall just a loveable type person that you just appreciate in all that he does, and continue to do, without giving up, because he does believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel! He's an awesome person to know and gets the job done, and you just can't thank him enough. In my book he's the go getter lawyer that takes his work seriously, and get the job done. But what you have to remember on your end, is that it all takes time, so be patience!

https://youtu.be/3_sfwSkG0pI

View All Reviews and Testimonials

Learn More About Social Security Disability

  • Areas We Serve
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Denials and Appeals
  • Common Mistakes
  • Insider Tips
  • Non-Medical Eligibility
  • Conditions That May Qualify
  • Social Security Disability Blog

Complete This CONFIDENTIAL Form for a FREE Social Security Disability Case Evaluation

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Footer

Our Team

  • Nick Ortiz
  • Jessica Ortiz
  • Dawn Keller
  • Sarah Palag
  • Tory Nelson

Our Law Office

ORTIZ LAW FIRM
(888) 321-8131

823 E. Jackson St.
Pensacola, FL 32501
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Saturday - Sunday: Closed

Practice Areas

  • Long Term Disability Claims
  • Social Security Disability Claims
  • Personal Injury Claims
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Free Social Security Disability Resources
  • Social Security Disability Frequently Asked Questions
  • Conditions That May Qualify for Social Security Disability
  • Social Security Disability Blog
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer

Site Footer

©2020 Ortiz Law Firm, All Rights Reserved. Reproduced with Permission | Privacy Policy

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!