YOUR REPRESENTATIVE HAS NEVER SEEN A HEARING BEFORE!

Individuals headed for a Social Security disability hearing often ask, "Can I represent myself at the hearing?"

A better question would be:  "Do I want to be the only person in the hearing who has never attended a Social Security hearing before?"

  • The federal administrative law judge has attended thousands of hearings and is a tough, well trained pro.
  •  
  • The vocational expert has probably attended thousands of hearings and is also a well trained pro.
  • There also could be a medical expert or doctor called to give testimony, also a highly trained pro, who has testified at many hearings. 
If you, as the claimant, are the only person in the room who has absolutely no experience with Social Security hearings, think about the disadvantage it places on you.  What will you do if (and these are only a few examples of what can happen)......

  • The judge asks if you object to any evidence in your medical file?
  • The vocational expert testifies that you can perform your past relevant work?
  • The vocational expert testifies that there are over 2 million "other jobs" that you are still capable of performing?
  • The medical expert testifies that your medical records do not show that you meet or equal any Social Security Listing?
  • You are found able to perform one of your past jobs; however, that past job had last been performed 17 years ago and you only worked part-time at that job?
  • The judge believes that unemployment benefits paid to you after you say you became disabled disqualifies you for any Social Security benefits?
  • The judge questions your alleged onset date and asks you what medical evidence supports the onset date?  (This can lose all your back pay). 
  • The judge asks if you would consider an amended onset date?        
If you don't experience any of the above problems, there are a thousand others that may crop up.  So, I ask again......

Do you want to be the only person in the room who has no experience with Social Security disability hearings?

It may well be in your best interest to take a seasoned Social Security disability advocate or representative with you to the hearing.

 

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