Disability Hearings

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...

After closing hearing offices to the public in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Social Security finally began offering limited in-person hearings this summer. I’ve since attended two of these hearings at different offices in Illinois and can report that they...

Before you a claim for Social Security disability benefits is taken to the hearing level, claimants receive two denials from the Social Security Administration. Assuming there is sufficient evidence in the file (and in most cases there is), Disability Determination...

Most disability claimants understand that after receiving two denials from the Social Security Administration, they’re entitled to a hearing before an administrative law judge. The good news is that in most cases, only one hearing is required to receive a decision...

In recent years, the Social Security Administration has gotten better about reviewing cases that meet its criteria for dire need. These are typically cases where a claimant has been diagnosed with a terminal illness or is facing homelessness. In these situations,...

Throughout the last two years the Social Security Administration has had to make major shifts in the way hearings are run in order to keep serving the public. First all hearings were cancelled, however they quickly shifted to telephone hearings. A short while later,...

If you’re feeling the pinch of inflation right now (and who isn’t?), there could be good news in store later this year when Social Security announces its annual cost of living increase. The Senior Citizens League, a nonprofit advocacy group, is currently estimating...