It Is Important To Be Represented By An Attorney At Your Disability Hearing
First of all, your attorney can get you ready to appear before the Administrative Law Judge (the ALJ). Just knowing what might be asked of you will ease you mind and it will also help you to frame your answers more clearly. A common question that the ALJ might ask may be whether you are able to sweep your floors. Giving a short “yes” answer may not show the real answer, which might be “Yes, I can, but only if I take a break every 15 minutes or so as I cannot stay on my feet much longer than that due to my back pain.” Now the ALJ has the real picture because you were prepared to answer fully.
The ALJ Might Not Ask the Right Questions
If you don’t have an attorney with you, the only information you will get out on the record are the answers to the questions the ALJ asks you. You should never take anything for granted. You might think the Judge knows everything about your medical condition when chances are he does not. Your attorney will also question you and bring out the information that needs to be known by the ALJ. He might be thinking that you have bad knees, which you do, but he doesn’t know you are also unable to work because of the damage to your back.
An Attorney understands what Legal Arguments can be made
The Social Security Administration keeps a “Listing of Impairments” under which disability status is granted and payments are made. There may be test results in your medical records or findings by doctors that prove you meet those standards. Your attorney has read your file(s) thoroughly and knows exactly where to find what he or she needs to show to the ALJ to win the hearing for you. There are disability lawyers in Manhattan who can get the job done for you. Contact Law Office of Attorney Daniel Berger for more details.
