SSD – Disability Hearings

Applying for Social Security Disability benefits can be a long and challenging process. You may have requested a hearing before an administrative law judge if your initial application was denied. This hearing is a crucial opportunity to present your case and...

No matter how strong a disability case looks before a hearing, for reasons that often aren’t even clear to an attorney, administrative law judges deny good cases. When this happens, the first instinct of most clients is to appeal. They feel wronged, and they want to...

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Social Security Administration began allowing remote hearing options. They have opted to continue with these options for clients. You always have the option to choose to appear in person for your hearing, and we will appear in person...

First and foremost, it is important to note that it is mandatory that you appear (whether in person, by phone, or by video) for your scheduled Social Security Disability hearing. While this may seem obvious, sometimes situations can come up that are out of your...

In most cases, you will receive your Notice of Decision within 6-8 weeks of the hearing, however some Judges have a longer backlog. If all of the medical evidence is not submitted prior to the hearing, and the Administrative Law Judge has left the record open to...

The Social Security Administration has returned to limited in-person hearings for several months now, and while that’s worked out with few issues, some claimants have found that it’s still not as convenient as having a hearing over the phone. While the SSA has made...

It’s no secret that which judge hears your case can be a major factor in whether you’re approved for disability benefits. The award rate for each administrative law judge working for the Social Security Administration is publicly available information. Some judges...

There are numerous reasons why you might need to have a second disability hearing. Sometimes, judges get sick. Vocational experts are unavailable. Hearing recordings aren’t properly made, or technical issues lead to rescheduling. But generally, the number one reason a...

When you apply for Social Security Disability, one of the many pieces of information the Social Security Administration will ask you about your past work history. This is a form where you’ll be asked about the titles of jobs you’ve had in the last 15 years, your...

NFL players aren’t the only people at risk for serious complications from traumatic brain injuries, known as TBIs. You may have been involved in a serious car accident, fallen from a great height, been attacked, hit in the head playing sports, or exposed to explosive...

Sometimes the administrative law judge will ask a medical expert to testify at your hearing. A medical expert is either a physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist who is trained in Social Security’s rules and regulations. A medical expert is not an employee of the...

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Social Security Disability services and hearings were strictly limited to telephone and video hearings for almost two years. However, in January 2022, they announced a plan to begin in person services again. Essentially the plan created...

When you first file for disability benefits, the Social Security Administration will use the information you provide them to order recent medical records and make a determination in your claim. If you’re denied in the first two stages of the process and your case goes...

A closed period of disability is period between the date when an individual alleges their disability started and the date when they are physically able to return to work. This period must be at least 12 months long. If you meet the criteria for disability during this...