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Presenting Your Case to an Administrative Law Judge

If your claim has been denied twice on paper by claims workers at the Application and Reconsideration steps, the Administrative Law Judge Hearing is your opportunity to explain in your own words how your feel, and why you are unable to work. This is especially important in cases where the symptoms of the illness or disability are not obvious, such as when the claimant is suffering from chronic and disabling pain.

We have obtained favorable disability decisions from Administrative Law Judges in Springfield, including on the record decisions that required no hearing for our clients! To appeal your claim to an ALJ, we can file SSA Form 501 for you, and prepare you and your case for your hearing.

Peter J. Martinelli, who served as Chief Administrative Law Judge in the Springfield hearings office, explained to Congress how the ALJ wears three hats:

  1. a Judge who provides full and fair hearings;
  2. a person who assists the claimants by developing the record and their cases, even if they are represented; and,
  3. a trustee for the Social Security Trust and General Tax Funds.

Judge Martinelli pointed out that "the last two duties require a judge to, in essence, represent opposing sides." The best way to help an ALJ decide that you deserve your benefits is to provide the Judge with the medical evidence he or she needs to make a good disability decision.

We go over your work experience and your education to prepare for your hearing, along with your testimony about your daily life, your medical history, and your physical and mental abilities. All of this information is carefully prepared, so that when we get to the hearing room, the Judge can clearly see how your case fits in with Social Security regulations:

Here is a look inside the hearing room where an Administrative Law Judge will hear your disability case.
 Unlike courtoom shows you may have seen on TV the hearing is private. You, your family members and attorney, and the Judge and Social Security witnesses are at the hearing.
The hearing may last one hour or less. We prepare your case, to make sure there is a complete record of your disability so the Judge can make a good decision.

Social Security may hire a vocational expert to come to your hearing. The vocational expert listens to all of this testimony, and then gives an opinion about whether a disability makes it too difficult for a person to go to work. Vocational Experts provide important evidence in the case that must fit with what you can or cannot do.

Preparing for your hearing involves a full review of how you feel, and how your disability has affected you. Many people who suffer from pain and chronic illness have trouble explaining how they feel. It is not unusual for disabled people to have difficulty or even reluctance in describing their symptoms. To prepare you for your hearing, we explain how the Social Security law and regulations apply to your specific case of disability.

In many cases, we will ask a client to bring family members or another person who knows about how the disability has affected everyday life, and the ability to work. We will help you and your witnesses prepare the important testimony about your symptoms and activities of daily living. The goal is to obtain a Fully Favorable Decision on your claim. We always try to obtain an on the record decision, if possible. We can help you win your ALJ hearing. It's important to start preparing now. Call us today for a free case evaluation: (413) 567-5600.