[mc id=”118″ type=”audio”]How to Prepare for Your Hearing[/mc]
Podcast Notes: Social Security judges are busy people, and they do not have time to dig for information. Your hearing offers you the opportunity to explain to a Social Security Administration judge why you are unable to work, and your hearing will last no more than 60 minutes. The only issue that the judge really cares about involves your capacity for work – everything else is peripheral, so it does not make sense to waste valuable time pondering background information like your work history and medication lists.
In my experience, judges appreciate you and your attorney if you can quickly review background information and proceed quickly to the heart of the matter. In fact, I generally ask leading questions (questions that suggest the answer) when I cover background information and not once has a judge interrupted me.
Here is the background information that you need to have at your fingertips:
Past work over the last 15 years – you should know the dates of employment, your job title, and prepare a brief description of what you did. This information can also be submitted in writing on a form but the judge may want to hear it directly from you.
Current medications list – you should have a list of the medicines, both prescription and non-prescription, that you take, who prescribed those medications, and when you started taking each one. Further, if your doctor has been modifying your prescriptions in an effort to control your condition, a timeline would be helpful. Finally, you should make note of any side effects that apply.
Know the “onset date” set out in your application for benefits and why you chose that date. Was it an accident? Was this your last day of work? Why this date?
Have a clear understanding of why you believe you meet Social Security’s definition of disability. Discuss this with your lawyer and write out a statement if necessary.
Prepare answers to questions about your capacity to perform specific exertional activities, like standing, walking, sitting, crawling, crouching, climbing, reaching, using your hands, etc. Avoid “not very much” or “not too long.”
Jonathan Ginsberg represents clients in disability claims filed with the Social Security Administration.
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