Getting What Is Rightfully Yours

What To Expect At Your Social Security Disability Appeal Hearing

21 June 2019 by Penny Fisher

Those who need help from the Social Security Administration (SSA) may need to file an appeal before they are approved for benefits. If you cannot work at your job due to a medical condition, filing an appeal is the next step after you are denied. Read on to find out what to expect at the hearing and how you can increase your chances of approval on appeal.

What Happens at the Hearing?

Hearings are presided over by an administrative law judge (ALJ) and they can last anywhere from 15 minutes up to about an hour. This is your opportunity to explain why you cannot work at your job because of your medical issue. You got turned down for a reason, so make sure you understand what the judge needs to know. Some applicants fail to be specific enough on the application when linking their illness to a job task. For example, mention that your most recent job involved sitting and typing for hours a day. Perhaps your carpal tunnel syndrome is so severe that even surgery did not help you. The pain, numbness, tingling, etc. are too much to bear when typing. You may also have trouble grasping objects and manipulating your fingers, which means your job prospects, given your current location and training level, are non-existent.

Be Careful Answering Questions

You will be asked several questions about your medical condition and how it affects your ability to work at your (or any) job. Be sure to listen carefully to the question and make sure that you answer only what is asked. Don't get off the subject or speak about unrelated issues. The ALJ wants to hear about your injury, not that you have children at home to support, that you are also depressed, that there's been a death in the family recently, etc. If you have a Social Security lawyer representing you, they can work with you so you can be prepared for the hearing. For example, they can help you practice answering commonly asked questions ahead of time.

Speak About Your Life in General

While you want to leave out unnecessary personal information, it's definitely in your best interest to mention how the affliction has affected you outside of work. For example, if you tell the ALJ that you are no longer able to play ball with your son due to your back pain, it helps to paint a more complete picture of your disability. The same issues that plague you at work also affect you at home, so be ready to let the judge know about it.

Contact a Social Security Disability lawyer for more information.

Share