SSDI Benefits: The Hearing

Your disability has likely affected your life to a significant degree if you're seeking SSDI--social security disability insurance--relief. If you've gone through the actions of compiling medical paperwork and completing an entire application, you hope the government will do its part to approve your case. The last hurdle here is typically a formal court hearing. A judge will discuss what you've submitted and make an ultimate recommendation about your case. Should you do anything special at this hearing? How should you interact with the judge? What do you have to get across? Use these details.

1-Give Examples

Many people struggle when a judge asks them to describe things in their life, especially when they're nervous. You might misunderstand why the judge is asking you to describe a morning or explain your disability when they have medical notes and other documents in front of them. Usually, judges like to hear what exactly is happening and how your ability to work has changed or disappeared. Give examples. For instance, if walking makes you feel dizzy or you're in terrible pain whenever you stand, those details are what the judge needs to understand. When they better understand why working is impossible, they can more easily approve you.

2--Be Honest

Of course, you have a vested interest in the success of this meeting. Bills might be waiting for you at home, and your ability to purchase food may be fading. You might be thinking about your kids or the real hardships you need those benefits to fix. Therefore, there could be a mild compulsion to exaggerate or embellish your feelings, your abilities, and your disability. This is incredibly dangerous. For one thing, the judge has looked over the application and doctor's notes; if you behave or speak in a way that conflicts with those, red flags will be raised. Judges also usually have a keen sense of when someone is being dishonest; if the judge begins to suspect you're attempting to game the process, that could be an utter disaster for you. Be honest and don't avoid sharing things which feel embarrassing if asked.

This hearing should benefit you as much as it does the judge learning more about your application. In the end, you should feel that you've said your piece and expressed all you could. Your attorney will likely somewhat prep you and recommend certain actions; their expertise should enable the court hearing to go that much better.

For more information, check out a website like http://www.socialsecurityesq.com.

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