What To Do When Facing A Social Security Disability Judge

What To Do When Facing A Social Security Disability Judge

There are so many reasons as to why people apply for social security disability benefits. Unfortunately, not everyone who applies enjoys an approval and you might be among the lucky ones who manage to file for a hearing before a judge successfully and actually win your case. When you finally get your appointment to the court, you want to make sure that you present yourself in the best way possible to increase your winning chances. Here are a few pointers of what you can do to help you get the best results from the disability hearing.

Dress the part – Just because you are dressing for social security disability does not mean that you should appear pitiful and desperate. Take time to dress up and look presentable because what you say and the documents you have to present is what will make all the difference in the hearing and not how you look. Dressing your worst to attract sympathy will only come out as a lack of respect and not one will actually take you as seriously as you expected them to. At least wear clean clothes that are well-ironed, even if they are not that formal.

Be there on time – Remember that the hearing could have taken a long time to come along and this could be your only chance to get what you really deserve. It is therefore only reasonable that you make sure you are on time for the hearing. It is actually best that you are there several minutes before the scheduled time for the hearing.

Be honest – The best way to increase your chances of winning your disability claim is being as honest as possible even when you feel that some truths could hurt the claim benefits in a way. When you choose to lie to the judge, the effects could be worse when the truth manages to seep out. It is better to win something than have the claim denied completely just because of a lie you choose to tell.

Try and be a very good listener – Interrupting the judge reviewing the case is not only annoying, but can actually also anger them and lead them to making a quick decision that may not be the best. Listen to questions carefully and understand what the judge is asking before providing them with an answer. Avoid being rude at all but feel free to ask for more time to explain your case in details if you feel the judge is not doing that.

Give an ear to your lawyer – Most disability cases are handled by attorneys and you may have one to ease out the process for you. If you have a lawyer representing you then make sure that you listen to them before the hearing. The truth is that most know what kinds of questions will be asked during the hearing and will take you through them and help you know how to approach the questions to finally enjoy the reward that you truly deserve.