A Social Security Disability or SSI hearing is where you go before an Administrative Law Judge who’s going to hear your case. You are there to present your case. Be prepared to explain your medical conditions and how they affect your ability to work. Bring any necessary documents and be ready to answer questions from the judge and possibly the vocational expert.
What Happens at a Disability Hearing?
The judge will ask you a series of questions about what your limitations are. The judge should have viewed your medical records and will be very familiar with your medical conditions, but the judge really wants to know is how those conditions impact and impair you on a daily basis. They want to get a feel for what it is about your condition that keeps you from working full-time. Be honest and clear when answering their questions.
Your attorney or representative will then have an opportunity to supplement and ask you additional questions about your impairments. They can clarify legal points and ask questions on your behalf. Their expertise can be invaluable in presenting your case effectively.
If there’s a vocational expert in the room, then the judge may ask the vocational expert some questions about what types of work that may be available to someone like you with your types of medical problems. Your attorney will have a chance to ask some additional questions of the vocational expert as well.
In some cases, a medical expert will attend the hearing. They review your medical records and might testify on whether your conditions meet the Social Security Administration’s medical criteria. The judge may ask the medical expert or doctor some additional questions about whether you meet the medical listings of impairment, and your attorney will have an opportunity to cross-examine them as well.
Get Help with Your Social Security Disability Claim
Working with a capable Pensacola Social Security Disability lawyer prior to your disability hearing can ensure that the process goes more smoothly. You and your lawyer may discuss ways to demonstrate your abilities and limitations. You might also examine medical records and work history to prepare for the hearing. Contact us online or call us at (888) 321-8131 to schedule your free case evaluation today.
