JUDGE GIVES GOOD ADVICE

I recently received a phone call from a lady who told me she had just walked out of a Social Security disability hearing.  She had gone in unrepresented and the judge suggested that she delay her hearing and find representation.  Good advice and most judges will either postpone the hearing to give the claimant a chance to hire a representative or they will have the claimant sign a waiver of representation.

Here is what my client said about her experience with the hearing.  "It took me about five minutes to realize that I was in over my head.  I thought it was just a matter of going in and telling my story to the judge.  I found out it involves much more than that."

Some of the things you will probably have to deal with in a Social Security disability hearing include:
  • potentially adverse testimony from the vocational expert
  • challenge to some of your evidence from the hearing judge
  • Has your past work been properly classified?
  • Are the judge's hypothetical questions properly framed?
  • Does your medical evidence show vocational limitations?
  • Which Grid Rule directs the judge toward a ruling of "disabled"?
  • Do you meet one of the Listed Impairments?  Which one?
  • Does the state consultative report contradict your medical record?
  • Is your chiropractor considered an "accepted medical source"? 
  • Why should that summer job not be considered "past relevant work"?
Those are a few of dozens of complicated matters that you could routinely be expected to deal with in a Social Security disability hearing. Could you represent yourself in a hearing and win?  Absolutely.  Could you land a 747 jumbo jet without taking any flying lessons?  Well, maybe.....?  But the odds are against it.  And good representation doesn't cost a cent until you win. Until you get your check started.  Until you collect lump sum back pay.  Until Social Security approves the fee.  Federal law has taken most of the risk out of representation, as far as fees are concerned.
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Learn more about Social Security disability representation 

Contact the Forsythe Firm     (256) 799-0297  or   1-855-854-CASH


 

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