If you are applying for Social Security disability benefits, you may be required to appear at an administrative hearing. This hearing allows you and your attorney to show the Social Security Administration (SSA) why you should receive monthly disability payments. If you are applying for Social Security disability benefits in southern California, have an experienced Los Angeles Social Security disability attorney working alongside you from the start. Your attorney will represent you at the administrative hearing and help you prepare for it.
Administrative law judges may permit a variety of evidence into your hearing, including items that would be inadmissible in a conventional judicial procedure. While the administrative hearing is not a criminal procedure, in most cases witnesses will provide testimony under oath. You’ll be asked about your work history and your disability. Your attorney should have plenty of experience representing clients in these hearings, so be sure you choose a seasoned attorney you like and trust. He or she may suggest that you arrive at least 30 minutes before the hearing to settle in and focus. Dress comfortably but appropriately, as if you were going to a job interview. Prior to the hearing, don’t discuss your case with anyone other than your attorney. Turn off your cell phone when you enter the hearing room and leave it off until the hearing is completed.
To win at the disability hearing level, you’ll need knowledgeable representation from a good Social Security disability lawyer. If you’ve been denied benefits, a good disability attorney will help you gather the evidence and line up the witnesses who can help you win the benefits you need. If you’re at any stage of the process of applying for Social Security disability benefits in southern California, get the help you need and consult with an experienced Los Angeles Social Security disability attorney as quickly as possible.