If you’ve applied for disability and did not receive an approval letter, you may have to appeal the decision to reject your claim. The second level of appeals is known as a disability hearing. This is when you appear in front of an Administrative Law judge to discuss your case.
After you receive a notice that your initial appeal has been denied, you have up to 60 days to request an administrative hearing. This gives you roughly two months to prepare for the hearing, so you can present the best case for needing disability coverage.
You’ll receive a notice about the date of your hearing at least 20 days before the hearing takes place. The notice should inform you of the time, date and location of the hearing. On the day, make sure you show up on time, as these hearings are quick. They take only around 15 minutes to an hour, so being prepared and even early can make a good impression on the judge. In the case that you’re late, you may be able to reschedule if you have a good reason for not appearing on time.
If you’re worried about how far away the hearing will take place, it should put your mind at ease that the hearing will be no more than 75 miles from where you live in the majority of cases. If you cannot travel, the Social Security Administration (SSA) does allow you to attend the hearing through a video teleconference, so you don’t have to leave your home, the hospital or another facility. Your attorney can help you set up a teleconference if necessary.
Source: FindLaw, “What Happens at a Disability Hearing?,” accessed July 28, 2017
