This information may help claimants with representation, as well as those who are not represented by an attorney or non attorney representative. Understanding how the Social Security Disability system works can make the difference between winning or not winning the ssdi benefits and backpay to which a person is entitled. To win a claim for ongoing and past due ssd or ssi benefits, claimants should learn as much as possible about the social security disability approval system to improve the odds and chances of winning a claim and being approved for benefit receipt. |
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ALJs, or Administrative Law Judges, decide cases mainly on the weight of the medical evidence---which includes xrays and other imaging, lab panels, treatment notes, as well as statements from physicians written on behalf of a social security disability or ssi disability claimant.
However, a Claimant's testimory is taken into account as well. For this reason, responses to a judge's questions should be full, forthright, and honest. Care should be taken by a claimant not to exaggerate in any way the limitations caused by a physical or mental impairment. ALJ's who hear disability cases hold hundreds of hearings each year (sometimes holding as many as 4-6 hearings in a single day) and are particularly adept when it comes to spotting such attempts. By the same token, though, ssd and ssi Claimants should never minimize the extent to which their impairments affect them daily. Therefore, if a claimant's condition, or the pain resulting from that condition, has the effect of restricting the range of motion in a particular joint, the level of strength in a muscle or extremity, or interferes with a claimant's ability to sit, stand, stoup, crouch, reach, grasp (etc, etc) or even sleep for lengthy periods (back pain often has this effect), this should be pointed out to the judge hearing the disability case. In all cases, the best presentation will simply be candid and honest. What types of questions are asked of disability claimants by ALJ's. Potentially, there's no limit to the type of questioning a disability judge may employ. Typically, though, questions will regard the most obvious factor surrounding a case: how does the claimant's medical condition, or set of conditions, affect them on a daily basis and how do these functional limitations limit the ability to return to past work, or engage in any other kind of work. Lastly, though it should always be done in consultation with an attorney or representative, disability claimants are always given the opportunity to have other individuals present at the hearing who may, at the discretion of a judge, give testimony regarding a claimant's condition and limitations. Disability Advocates Help with Claims Free Case Evaluation |
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SOCIAL SECURITY LAWYER - SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY LAWYER REFERRAL ANSWERS TO YOUR SSD & SSI QUESTIONS PAGE 1 ANSWERS TO YOUR SSD & SSI QUESTIONS PAGE 2 |
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If you suffer from a medical disability such as hip, neck, shoulder, ankle, wrist, back, or other joint problems, disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, rsi or repetetive stress injury, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis, dysthymia, depression or other mood disorders, congestive or chronic heart failure, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, high blood pressure (hypertension), seizure disorder, stroke, copd, emphysema, hearing loss or poor hearing, statutory blindness, peripheral field problems or other vision loss, clinical obesity, attention deficit hyperactivity or, simply, adhd, bipolar disorder or manic depression, panic disorder, schizophrenia, autism, head trauma, memory loss, low iq, mental retardation, learning disability, epilepsy, cancer, chronic fatigue, multiple sclerosis, lupus, anxiety, inner ear problems, meniere's, vertigo or dizziness, kidney failure requiring dialysis or other renal problems, cirrhosis, hepatitis, or other liver disease, pancreatitis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, rsd or reflex sympathetic dystrophy, crohn's disease, sarcoidosis, peripheral vascular disease, lyme disease, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, hiv, aids, anemia, sickle cell, thyroid problems including hypothyroidism, esrd or end stage renal disease, reflux, gerd (gastroesophageal reflux disease), cfids, muscular dystrophy, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, or tachycardia, bradycardia or other arrhythmia and have initiated or been denied on a social security disability, or ssi, claim for benefits, this site may assist you with your case. Social Security Disability benefits are often difficult to win; however many claims for social security disability are lost simply because a claimant did not know enough about the disability process to their social security or ssi claim. For information re: representation on a social security disability or ssi claim (attorney or non attorney representative), see the "questions" & "how" pages. |
| Social Security Disability General information on Medical conditions |