At the hearing stage of your case, you will have the opportunity to appear before an Administrative Law Judge. This judge only hears cases concerning claims for disability benefits and is an employee of the Social Security Administration. The judge will look at a number of different sources of evidence in considering your claim for benefits.
What evidence will the judge consider in my case?
Why are Disability Applications Down?
There was some unexpected news in the New York Times earlier this summer: disability applications are way, way down.
Personal Identification Documents
Since the early 20th century, photographic identification documents have become an ordinary possession in our society, though not compulsory in the United States. These days, personal identification is necessary for just about everything from cashing a check, to riding an airplane, to entering a government building, to buying medicine. It seems obvious that anyone seeking public benefits should have identity documents. Yet, according to a study by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, approximately eleven percent of Americans do not own government-issued photo identification. The lack of personal identification is a tremendous hinderance in receiving government assistance.
The Partially Favorable Decision
Everyone who applies for Social Security hopes for a fully favorable decision. Typically, adjudicators will issue either a fully favorable decision, or a denial. At times, however, an adjudicator may render a partially favorable decision.
