10 WAYS TO RUIN YOUR DISABILITY HEARING (AND LOSE)

The best ways to ruin your disability hearing:

1. Go without knowing what to expect and what you have to prove.

2. Lie or exaggerate your symptoms.

3. Talk in medical terms without explaining how your disease affects your activities of daily living.

4. Try to convince the judge that you really need the benefits.

5. Complain about past denials and how unfair they were.

6. Admit that you still work under the table.

7. Tell the judge that no one will hire you (for one reason or another).

8. Be unable to state when you stopped working or became unable to work.

9. Cry or emotionally break down during the hearing. It happens but judges hate it and it never helps your case.

10. Save money and refuse to hire a lawyer or advocate to help you. After all, the lawyer could get 25 percent of your back pay if you win. No need to get an expert. Caution: When you represent yourself you are not risking just 25 percent. You are risking it ALL.

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