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Social security disability (SSD) and supplemental security income (SSI) claimants are often nervous at the thought of appearing before a judge to plead their case. The fact that the disability hearing takes place in a hearing office, the office of disability adjudication and review (ODAR), rather than a courtroom doesn’t change the fact that it is a federal administrative law judge that will decide the case. This is one of many reasons why it is best to obtain legal counsel before your hearing. Whether you choose to go with an experienced disability attorney or licensed non-attorney claimant’s representative, your odds of approval by a disability judge are greatly improved if a legal professional is advocating for you. Not only are attorneys and non-attorney reps vastly more familiar with the disability determination process and what it takes to win benefits, but they are also likely to have had significant contact with a variety of disability judges, and will know how to slant the evidence in your case accordingly. Simply put, some disability judges are more inclined to award benefits than others, and some give more weight on certain types of medical evidence. Your legal representative will have the prior experience to know how to present your medical documentation in the way that is most persuasive to the particular ALJ assigned to your case. This is especially useful given the fact that disability claimants have no way of knowing which judge will consider their case until a short time before the hearing; it’s almost impossible for a lay person to do the research necessary to determine a judge’s approval record, let alone what makes him or her tick. Your disability lawyer or non-attorney rep will be able to prepare a well-organized, persuasive case that meets the legal definition of disability and will have the greatest chance of swaying a judge in your favor. There is no way to know if you will be approved by a disability judge before the hearing, but having a seasoned legal advocate on your side can greatly improve your chances of winning benefits. In fact, some studies have shown that judges are 50% more likely to approve applications for disability when they are presented by attorneys than when they are presented by the claimants themselves. 
Social Security Disability and SSI Disability Information
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