Skip to main content

HOW TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AT A SOCIAL SECURITY HEARING

 Your Social Security disability case is likely to wind up before an administrative law judge for a hearing.  The hearing will consist of answering a lot of questions for the record.  How do you answer these questions?  What to say and not to say?

Here are some tips from a top Alabama Social Security attorney:

1.  Be polite.  Address the judge as "Your Honor," at least the few few times.

2.  Only answer the questions you are asked.  Don't volunteer too much information.

3.  Be specific.  Generalizations don't cut it.  Instead of, "I can only stand for a few minutes," say "I can stand for about 20 minutes."

4.  Don't exaggerate your symptoms to make them sound more severe than they are.  Don't minimize your symptoms so they sound less severe than they really are.

5.  Answer based on how you feel most days, not on your best days.

6.  Don't ramble.  Answer the question, then stop.

7.  Avoid contradictions. Your answers should be consistent throughout the hearing.  They should also be consistent with your application.  

8.  Hopefully, you will meet with your advocate or lawyer prior to the hearing to get valuable insight about your hearing and testimony.  I think this meeting is probably the most valuable part of a lawyer's assistance. 

     If you foresee a hearing in your disability case, contact The Forsythe Firm in Huntsville for a free consultation.  Never enter a hearing without being prepared and know what to expect.  Call us at (256) 799-0297.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN A SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY CASE

What are the top 3 most important factors in a Social Security disability case? 1.  Medical Evidence. 2.  Medical Evidence 3.  Medical Evidence 4-10     Medical Evidence Federal regulations set the eligibility requirements for Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits.  A claimant must meet these strict legal requirements More than anything else, the claimant's medical evidence will determine the outcome of the claim or appeal.  Without strong objective medical evidence Social Security cannot legally pay you a benefit. Objective Medical Evidence means the result of medical examinations, laboratory tests or imaging studies (X-rays, PT scans, MRI or CT scans). This type of evidence can only be obtained by going to your doctor. There's an old adage that says truthfully:  "The path to Social Security disability benefits runs straight through your doctor's office."  Being approved for an SSDI benefit requires objective medical proof. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

IS IT HARD TO GET SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY IN TENNESSEE?

  How hard is it to get Social Security disability (SSDI) in Tennessee? It can be very difficult.  In the beginning stages of the process, it seems like the agency is out to deny as many claims as possible.  Later--in the appeals process--it takes more technical and legal skill to move through the labyrinth of obstacles. What's the usual reason for an SSDI denial? If you look at all the denial letters, the most comm on reason given is:  You are not disabled according to our rules. The 2 main explanation for finding claimants not disabled are: 1.  You are able to perform some of your past relevant work. 2.  You can't perform any of your past work but you are able to do other work. Those are the two "catch all" reasons Social Security gives for nearly all of their denials.  Both of these reasons fall into the category of a medical denial .  The claimant's condition is not deemed severe enough to prevent all work. There are other reasons for d...
Post a Comment
Read more

CAN YOU WIN YOUR DISABILITY APPEAL WITHOUT A LAWYER?

The Social Security Administration does not require you to have a lawyer to file an appeal or to appear at a hearing.  However, most people heading for a disability hearing will hire a lawyer or advocate to help them.   Studies have shown that you are about twice as likely to win with a lawyer.  A recent study found that claimants with no lawyer win about 30 percent of the time while claimants with a lawyer or advocate win 60 percent of the time.   " He just cooked his own goose." These statistics cover only one aspect of a disability appear--your odds of winning. The other important aspects are time and convenience. If you prepare and adjudicate your own disability appeal, expect to spend 12 to 24 months working on the case.  You will be collecting, reading and submitting hundreds or thousands of pages of medical records.  These records are complex and often difficult to understand.  And you must know how each medical record helps (or hurts) your dis...
Post a Comment
Read more