Understanding The Hearing Process For Your Social Security Disability Application
If you've applied for Social Security Disability payments, you may have recently received a notice about a court appearance. If you have to appear in front of a judge to have your disability case decided, you may feel a little bit intimidated about the whole process. You'll want to talk with your Social Security Disability lawyer before you appear in court, but there are some things that you should know ahead of time. Here is a look at what you can expect of the judge's questions.
Basic Personal Questions
The first thing you can expect from the judge is a review of some basic personal information. You'll have to tell the judge about your family, including who you live with. You'll also have to tell the judge about your education, your home, and other basic details.
Work Questions
The judge will ask you for a detailed accounting of the last fifteen years of your work experience. You'll be expected to detail your job's requirements, any customer interactions, physical demands, and overall responsibilities. The judge will be looking for information dating back fifteen years from your disability onset, stopping at your work stoppage when you were injured. If you've earned any income since, you will be expected to explain that as well.
Medical Questions
The judge can't make any determination about your disability benefits without a thorough understanding of your medical situation. In addition to reviewing any medical records submitted and talking with any expert witnesses, the judge will question you about your medical situation. You'll have to explain what caused your injury, how your injury has physically affected your daily life and your work ability, and what your prognosis is. You'll also have to discuss your treatments, explaining what your doctor has done for you and what appointments you still must attend.
Daily Life Questions
Another important consideration in the judge's determination is a series of daily life questions. The judge will want to know about your daily activities, including what your limitations are. This is key because it helps the judge to clearly understand how your injury has affected your quality of life and your ability to function on a daily basis. The more information you can provide about your limitations and how the injury has affected you, the easier it is for the judge to make an accurate determination on your case.
Talk with a Social Security Disability lawyer today for more information about your case and how to prepare for your hearing.