The first thing that otherwise your attorney would take care of, and now you have to do it, is not to miss a single deadline, because it will significantly complicate and prolong the whole process which is already quite complicated for your as a layman. You have to file your reconsideration request promptly.
The Office of Hearings Operations is now in charge of you and they will announce the date of your hearing 75 days in advance. That is enough time to prepare yourself the right way.
The most important part of the whole process is to submit as detailed medical records as possible. Although as a rule the Social Security Administration should obtain all the necessary medical records, by no means you should count on it.
After you submit medical files, it’s time for the so-called brief. There you should write a brief review of all the new medical files that you have submitted and write down all the reasons why you think that now your case is strong enough to grant you all the benefits.
When it comes time for a hearing, you need to know a few things. First remember that this is an official thing and that you have to follow the dress code, be correct, use appropriate words and the like.
If you're filing for disability benefits because you're unable to work, Social Security requires that your impairments be documented with medical evidence. The strength of a disability claim often depends on the nature and quantity of the medical treatment received. In some cases, however, an individual may be found disabled even ...
Oftentimes the consulting doctor specializes in an area of medicine completely unrelated to your alleged impairment, and performs a perfunctory exam that lasts fifteen minutes or less .
Finally, the biggest mistake disability claimants make is to try to navigate the system alone. An experienced disability attorney can prepare you for your hearing and greatly increase your chances of being approved.
If the ALJ asks you a question directly, you absolutely must answer it honestly. But your duty to tell the truth does not require you to bring up information unsolicited that might be harmful to your case. Here are a couple general areas or statements to avoid unless you are specifically questioned about them.
Instead, try to quantify your symptoms to the extent possible: "I get a migraine headache about four to five days a week, and they usually last from four to as much as twelve hours.".