As Social Security Disability attorneys, it is not uncommon for us to meet with clients who want to know how to prepare for a disability hearing in Deltona. Working with the right legal representative is an important first step.

If you applied for Social Security Disability benefits and were denied, there is a process that you can take to dispute the decision made by the Social Security Administration. One of the levels of appeal is a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).  These hearings are not unusual, as the majority of disability applications are initially denied. If you have been wondering how to prepare for a disability hearing in Deltona, we have knowledgeable attorneys ready to answer your questions. 

What To Expect From Your Hearing

At an Administrative Hearing, you will appear before an ALJ. The ALJ is an independent federal judge who will issue a determination as to whether you are disabled according to the standards of the Social Security Administration (SSA).  The judge at your hearing will have already reviewed your case, and they will ask you or your witnesses questions in order to reach a decision. These questions may be related to:
  • Your ability to do the work you once did
  • Your ability to do other work
  • Your medical condition
  • The severity of your condition
  • Your ability to accomplish day-to-day tasks
  • And more
While a hearing is a serious legal proceeding and should be treated as such, you are not on trial. The ALJ may ask you to clarify some parts of your testimony, but there is no jury present and the SSA will not have their own attorney present to challenge your statements. 

How To Prepare For A Disability Hearing In Deltona

Make Sure That Your Medical Records Are Up-To-Date

In order to present the most current and accurate information regarding your medical conditions, it is important that you have sent the most recent medical records to the office of the ALJ. Your attorney can assist you in contacting your medical providers to obtain these records and send them to the judge on your behalf. 

Be Familiar With Your Claim

You should spend some time reviewing your claim before your hearing. It may have been several months since you applied for disability, so it’s helpful to refresh your memory and see the same documents that the ALJ will be reviewing. 

Get Physician StatementsHow To Prepare For A Disability Hearing In Deltona

It may be helpful to get statements from your doctors and other medical providers before your hearing. You can ask your attorney if this would benefit your case.

Find The Right Attorney

Working with an attorney is the best way to be completely prepared. This could potentially be the first (and only) time that you will ever appear before an ALJ to appeal your disability claim, and your attorney has been representing cases like yours for years.  There are only 10 attorneys in the state of Florida that are certified in Social Security Disability law, and two of them can be found here at Culbertson Law Group. Our attorneys have over 40 years of experience aggressively representing our clients in the Central Florida area.  You do not have to appeal your Social Security Disability denial alone. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.