| Disability hearings are fairly informal events. Usually, | | | | Unfortunately, 99% of all claimants will not have the |
| such hearings are conducted at hearing offices (not a | | | | skills or knowledge necessary to properly |
| courtroom) where the only people present include the | | | | prepare---AND WIN---a case. Therefore, even though |
| Judge (an ALJ, or administrative law judge), the | | | | it may not be absolutely necessary to have a |
| claimant, the claimant's representative---if they have | | | | representative before the hearing level (for example, |
| chosen to retain one---and medical experts chosen by | | | | at the initial claim and reconsideration levels) it is vital to |
| the Judge. | | | | have representation at the time of the hearing. |
| AlJ hearings, as they are commonly known, usually last | | | | Here are some things to keep in mind if it looks as |
| no more than an hour and sometimes only take 15 | | | | though you will have to go to a hearing: |
| minutes. From any standpoint, this is not an | | | | 1. go to the hearing. Believe it or not, some people don't |
| extraordinary amount of time. Nevertheless, the time in | | | | attend their own hearings. Obviously,this is a huge |
| which it takes to hold a hearing is of paramount | | | | mistake and you should not expect a judge to give |
| importance to the person trying to win their disability | | | | you full consideration if you don't show up at your own |
| benefits. | | | | hearing. |
| As very many claimants for disability benefits discover, | | | | 2. Don't be late for your ssd or ssi hearing. This is |
| winning a claim can make the difference between | | | | something that most judges have little tolerance for. |
| having a stable monthly income or living a life of | | | | And the same reasoning applies: if you can't be on |
| uncertainty as to what will happen next. It can even | | | | time for your own disability hearing, the judge can only |
| make the difference between having a home and | | | | conclude that it is notthat important to you. |
| being homeless. It is not at all uncommon to find, when | | | | 3. Be prepared. That is, be sure either you or your |
| a case has dragged on for too long, that a claimant is | | | | disability advocate has gotten and submitted to the |
| being threatened with eviction from their home or | | | | judge copies of all your recent medical records. In |
| foreclosure on their property. | | | | most cases,you can't win disability benefits without all |
| The disability hearing before a judge is typically the | | | | the records, especially the most recent records being |
| single most important event that will occur in the | | | | submitted. |
| disability process. It is a one hour event that will make | | | | Follow these tips and you can maximize your chance |
| or break a case. And for this reason, it should be | | | | of being successful on a disability benefits claims. |
| prepared for properly. | | | | |