Preparing for a disability hearing can be stressful, and it can even seem overwhelming. However, if you come equipped with a few disability hearing tips, you can greatly improve your chances of a favorable outcome.
So take a moment or two to review the following disability hearing tips. Understanding these tips is key to knowing how to win a Social Security disability hearing.
That said, your best bet after learning a few disability hearing tips is to consult a qualified disability law attorney.
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Social Security Disability Hearing Tips
There are several crucial tips to help you know how to prepare for your Social Security disability hearing.
Hearing Tip #1: Understand the Experience
The first helpful tip about a Social Security hearing is understanding what the experience will be like. A disability hearing is not like a formal criminal hearing that you might see on a legal television show.
Instead, most disability hearings take place in a small conference room or over video conference platforms. They don’t involve a jury. Most times, only a judge and court reporter are in attendance.
It is likely that you will be asked about several things, including:
- Your medical history;
- Your physical capabilities;
- Any medical treatment that you have received for your condition;
- Your mental abilities;
- Your professional training and education; and
- Your work history.
Knowing you will be asked about these topics, you will be better off if you come prepared.
Hearing Tip #2: Have Current Records
Possibly the most important part of your hearing is making sure you have the right information available at the hearing. It is not wise to expect other groups, such as the Social Security Administration (SSA), to give you all the records you need before your hearing. Instead, you should be proactive.
When you receive your hearing notice, request your current medical records from all your medical providers. Usually, you will receive at least several weeks’ advance notice before your hearing.
That should be enough time for you to contact your doctors and obtain your latest medical records from them. Once you receive your hearing notice, don’t wait to contact these doctors. In some cases, you might even need to have an additional evaluation or test performed to complete your medical record.
Hearing Tip #3: Get Your Doctor Involved
Your doctor’s opinion can carry a great deal of weight in the disability hearing. That being the case, it’s a good idea for you to approach your doctor beforehand, discuss your upcoming Social Security disability hearing, and obtain a detailed letter from them.
In this letter, your doctor should include specific statements about your medical limitations. They should list the activities that you cannot perform or can only partially perform, and they should state the degree to which you are able to perform those activities.
Let Our Social Security Disability Law Attorneys Help You
Knowing how to prepare for a Social Security disability hearing is far from simple. With the above disability hearing tips, you can get a solid advantage. However, the best course of action is to reach out to a disability law lawyer sooner rather than later.
Here at Cottrell Law Firm, we understand completely what you are going through, and we can help you defend your rights. We have over 32 years of experience helping our clients get the compensation they deserve, and as our testimonials show, we also specialize in excellent customer service.
Although every case is different and outcomes can’t be guaranteed, our results show a history of helping our clients earn large settlements and verdicts. Call us today at 800-364-8305 or contact us online.
Wesley Cottrell
Wes Cottrell earned his B.A. from Pittsburg State University in 1981 and his J.D. from the Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas in 1985. He was admitted to practice law in Kansas in 1986, in Missouri in 1987, in Arkansas in 1989, and Oklahoma in 1993. He is licensed to practice law in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, eastern Arkansas, western Arkansas, and western Missouri. He was Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Crawford County, Kansas from 1987-1989.
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