Preparing For Your SSDI Hearing

26 September 2017
 Categories: Law, Blog

Deciding that you want to explore social security disability (SSDI) benefits when a disability has disrupted your working life is a challenge. Being able to assemble required documents, retain a lawyer, and complete the application can take some effort. Lastly, you'll need to successfully appear in a SSDI hearing, which can trigger worry and discomfort. Use tips and suggestions like the ones below so you can be prepared and ease your fears.

Update Medical Records

When you first filed a claim, you may have provided as many documents about your medical condition as you had at the time. However, the judge is likely to ask about gaps or unexplained omissions in your paperwork. Ensure that you update as much as you can and provide as many medical records as possible before the hearing.

Be Specific

The judge will ask you in your own words to describe different things about your life. They might ask you to describe how your health has deteriorated or to describe how you go through a day. They are trying to understand what you go through each day, so being specific with your details will help them do that and possibly approve your claim.

For instance, talk about your pain with specific words. Does it sting? Are the pains sharp or dull? Are they constant? Instead of saying that you can't sit up during the day, put a definite time period on it.

Be Honest

It's not easy to give out personal information to strangers. The judge might ask some things that you're not comfortable speaking about in public, so you may attempt to hold back various details so as not to embarrass yourself. This can appear dishonest, and it can have real ramifications for your claim. Be forthcoming with negative details and discuss ways you've improved or worked to solve any problems you've had

This is especially the case if the information shows up in your records. For example, if you know your doctor was concerned that you might be "drug seeking," be honest and talk about it. Explain how you took steps to cut back on pain medication or how you otherwise tried to improve your situation. 

Seeking the help of SSDI benefits can be successful when you do well at the hearing. Be sure to run through possible questions with the help of an SSDI lawyer, such as Timothy  W Hudson Attorney, beforehand so you're comfortable when the event happens.