Benefits

If you suffer from shortness of breath, it is important to describe this condition accurately to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) during your Social Security disability hearing. During the disability hearing, your Ocala disability lawyer and the ALJ will ask you questions regarding your condition. These questions help an ALJ achieve a better understanding of your medical condition and why you are eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits. You will testify under oath during the hearing, and must answer all questions completely. First, your Ocala disability lawyer or the ALJ will ask you questions related to what causes your shortness of breath. Many things can cause shortness of breath including allergies, stress, and lung congestion. Next, the ALJ or…Read More

In a Social Security disability hearing, the Administrative Law Judge, ALJ, or your Ocala disability lawyer will ask you questions related to your past work experience to determine what kind of work you used to perform and whether you are still capable of performing it. Generally, the SSA considers “past relevant work” to be substantial gainful activity within the last 15 years. You can expect the ALJ and your attorney to ask you the same questions for each job that you have held within the last 15 years. First, an ALJ or your Ocala disability lawyer will question you about the job’s background information. For example, it is important to know the name of the job, the employer and how…Read More

An Administrative Hearing for a disability benefit appeal is a private hearing. An Administrative Law Judge, or ALJ, oversees an Administrative Hearing and will be present in addition to a judge’s assistant. A judge’s assistant will operate a tape recorder to capture all testimony during the hearing. You and your Ocala disability attorney will be present in the hearing room in addition to any witnesses that either you or the ALJ has requested to testify in the hearing. Observers can be present in an Administrative Hearing room at the approval of both the claimant and the ALJ. During the claimant’s testimony, some ALJ’s allow witnesses to be present in the hearing room, while other ALJ’s request that witnesses wait outside…Read More

If you receive an unfavorable decision from the Social Security Administration, or SSA, regarding your disability benefit application, you can appeal the decision by requesting an Administrative Hearing. During an Administrative Hearing, an Administrative Law Judge, or ALJ, hears evidence regarding the claimant’s medical condition. An Administrative Hearing can be in person or by video conference with the ALJ at one location and the claimant and his or her attorney at a different location. If the hearing is by video conference, unique problems may arise. For example, an ALJ can ask an expert witness to testify regarding the claimant’s condition or ability to find employment. The expert may be at the same location as the ALJ, making it difficult for…Read More

If you have a medical condition that impacts your ability to work, you may be eligible to receive disability benefits. The Social Security Administration, or SSA, denies the majority of disability applications that the SSA receives. However, an Ocala disability lawyer will help you appeal a disability denial. If you appeal a Social Security disability benefit denial, you can request an Administrative Hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, or ALJ. In most Administrative Hearings, the claimant appears before the ALJ in person to explain to the ALJ why the claimant should receive disability benefits. However, the SSA encourages claimants to conduct their disability hearings by video. A video hearing has both advantages and disadvantages. Generally, claimants, ALJs, and experts do…Read More

Applying for Social Security disability benefits can be a frustrating and time-consuming experience. The Social Security Administration, or SSA, provides monthly disability benefits to individuals who have a mental or physical impairment that prevents them from maintaining a job. However, the SSA denies the majority of disability benefit applications. Fortunately, you can appeal the SSA’s denial if you disagree with the SSA’s determination regarding your condition. First, you can request a reconsideration of your application. If your application is denied after the request for reconsideration, you can request an Administrative Hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, or ALJ. The Administrative Hearing is an informal hearing, which usually occurs in a room similar to a conference room. You and your Ocala…Read More

It is very rare that a Social Security disability claim does not require the testimony of good lay witnesses in order to be successful. Truthful and realistic testimony from a non-expert witness can end up being a major part of the administrative law judge’s decision following your Social Security disability hearing. Selecting the right witnesses is important in ensuring the best possible outcome for you. Your Ocala disability lawyer can help you to decide who would be best. The most common people who serve as lay witnesses are spouses, adult children, relatives, close friends, and sometimes even minor children. As it is not in your best interest to have all of your family members and friends testify, your Ocala disability…Read More

An Ocala disability lawyer can help you prepare for your Social Security disability hearing. If you cannot work, you may be asked about your ability to do the following: Follow instructions; Make decisions in a workplace setting; Deal with supervisors, co-workers, and clients or customers; and React well to changes in your environment. You may be asked about the stresses in your life and how you react to them. It’s not unusual for different people to find different things stressful. Thus, if the administrative law judge asks you about how well you deal with stress, be sure to explain exactly what sorts of things stress you out, especially at work. Many people find it difficult to describe exactly what it…Read More

If you suffer from a physical or mental condition that prevents you from working to support yourself and your family, you may be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits. The Social Security Administration, or SSA, provides monthly disability benefits to eligible individuals. However, the SSA establishes the criterion for determining whether you are eligible to receive disability benefits. If you feel as though your condition may qualify, discuss the application procedure with an experienced Ocala disability lawyer. An Ocala disability lawyer will review your condition and provide insight into whether she believes you are eligible. Generally, the older the applicant is, the less evidence the applicant will have to show regarding their inability to perform work. For example, if…Read More

Social Security Disability Hearings do not have a standardized procedure, and a large part of how they are conducted is left up to the discretion of the individual Administrative Law Judge. However, you can expect the Administrative Law Judge to give an opening statement. In a typical opening statement, the administrative law judge begins by opening the record, signaling that proceedings will thereupon be officially recorded. The judge will then acknowledge you and your attorney. The judge will state that he is not the same party that previously denied your claim, and will not be considering the justification for the previous denial in making his decision. He will then explain that the Social Security Administration’s official record of the hearing…Read More