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WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF WINNING A SOCIAL SECURITY HEARING FOR DISABILITY BENEFITS?
Many people who file disability claims with the Social Security administration find that they must attend a hearing before an administrative law judge if they feel their disability claim has been denied erroneously at the initial disability application and reconsideration appeal levels. The disability appeal process is a lengthy one at best, and the wait for an administrative law judge hearing is a big part of the wait.
Most Social Security hearings offices are backlogged with thousands of disability claims waiting for their hearing dates. Roughly two million people file for disability each year and if even half of those individuals pursue their claims to a hearing, you can easily see how backlogs have been created and how digging out from such huge backlogs can be problematic, particularly when SSA is receiving so many new hearings appeals each year.
If you are not able to work because of your disabling condition you really have no choice but to be patient and wait for your social security hearing.
Although the wait can be long, the chances of winning your disability benefits at a hearing are the best of any level of the Social Security disability process. In fact, recent statistics indicate that as many as two thirds of all individuals who attend a disability hearing win their case. This may be the best chance for you to be approved for disability benefits, so it is important to make sure you do everything in your power to make things favorable for you.
Remember that, at this point, you have waited a long time for this hearing and you probably have been through a lot of emotional and financial hardship along the way. I have seen people ask in disability forums if they are allowed to represent themselves at their disability hearing. The simple answer to this question is yes. There are no rules against an individual representing themselves at their hearing.
The bigger question is whether or not this will give you a better chance of winning your disability case. Statistical analysis of disability hearing win-loss ratios at hearings office across the nation suggests that individuals who have professional representation, either through an attorney or non-attorney Social Security representative, have a twenty to fifty percent greater likelihood of being approved for disability benefits at their disability hearing versus those who choose to represent themselves.
There are many reasons Social Security representatives or attorneys are more successful in winning disability cases. For example, if you have a representative, they most likely have gathered the necessary medical evidence to update your file. They may have gotten physician statements from your treating medical sources, or even functional capacity reports.
These things are important, but there are other things that help win a disability case before an administrative law judge (ALJ). Your representative knows the Social Security vocational and medical guidelines and they are able to present your disability case in a way that is most beneficial to you. Conversely, you feel emotional about your disability case and you probably do not know the Social Security guidelines that could help win your disability case; whereas an experienced representative can simply utilize their knowledge of the system to present your case in an objective and well-ordered fashion. The goal of every representative, of course, is to win the case they are representing.
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Social Security Disability, SSI Questions and Answers
Individual Questions and Answers
Who Do I Contact at Social Security To File For SSD or SSI Disability?
Does social security care if you are working when you are applying for disability?
The Cost and Expenses of a Disability Attorney or a Disability Representative
How Long Will It Take To Get Approved for Disability?
Social Security Disability Claim Denied and what to do about it
What If You Did Not Work Long Enough To Qualify For Disability?
Medical Evidence for Social Security Disability
Requesting a Disability Hearing After You are Denied
How Far Back Can SSI Back Pay Be Paid?
Receiving Benefits - Your Medical Condition and Social Security Disability or SSI
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How Disabling Does A Condition Have To Be For Social Security, SSDI Benefits?
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How to File for SSI
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Social Security Disability Requirements
What Income Will Affect Your Disability Benefits?
Basic Facts about the Administrative Law Judge Social Security Disability Hearing
Why does Representation increase the win ratio at a Social Security Disability or SSI Hearing?
Appearing at the ALJ Hearing for Social Security Disability and SSI Benefits
What does SSA consider a severe impairment for Social Security Disability or SSI Disability Benefits?
What are the Application Requirements For SSI Disability?
What Happens During A Social Security Disability Interview?
If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare?
What makes you eligible for Social Security Disability or SSI?
Can You Work While You Appeal Your Social Security Disability Decision?
Proving Functional Limitations and why this is Important on a Disability Case
Are Social Security Disability Requirements Tougher For Mental Claims?
The Difference Between Social Security Disability (SSD) and SSI – How are they different Part II
Why is the Social Security Administration definition of disability so strict?
Social Security Disability Children Benefits
How Long Does a Social Security Disability or SSI Appeal Take?
Medical Disability- How does Social Security view your work and medical records
Why do I need an attorney for Social Security disability?
How much does Disability Pay?
What Does It Mean If you Are Denied For Disability Because Of Other Work?
Medical Evidence Used on a Social Security Disability or SSI Claim
Will my claim for SSD or SSI Disability Benefits be denied?
Am I Eligible For Social Security Disability?
What is considered a Disabling condition by Social Security?
How Disabled Must You be to get Social Security Disability Approved?
How Long Can You Receive Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI)?
The Psychologist Exam for Social Security Disability and SSI Claims
How Does A Social Security Disability Examiner Work to Determine a Person’s State of Health?
Can my Social Security Disability or SSI benefits be stopped or cutoff ?
Is there a trick to qualifying for disability benefits with social security?
Can You Lose Your Social Security Disability Benefits When Your Case Is Reviewed?
If you are Denied for Disability, Should you File a new Application or File an Appeal of the Denial?
What are the Odds or Chances of Being Approved for Disability?
Disability Hearings - Information on the Social Security Hearing Process
How should I prepare for a disability hearing with Social Security ?
Disability Criteria - Eligibility For Social Security and SSI Disability
Are you allowed to work at all if you get Social Security disability or SSI ?
What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI?
How to File for Disability - Tips from an Insider
Degenerative Disc Disease, Social Security Disability, and Applying for Benefits
What Is the Five Step Sequential Evaluation Process Social Security Uses In Every Disability Case?
Social Security Disability--Permanent Disability
Is it hard to qualify for Social Security benefits if you have depression ?
How do you Apply for SSI?
Tips and Advice for Social Security Disability and SSI Claims
What is an extended period of eligibility for social security disability or SSI ?
Special Sections
The Social Security Disability SSI Application Process
Social Security Disability SSI Tips and Advice
Disability Benefits for Children
Information for Winning Disability Benefits
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Return to -- Do Most People Need To See A Judge To Get Disability Benefits From Social Security?
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Return to -- What Is The Difference In SSD and SSI?
Return to -- How is Social Security Disability and SSI Awarded?
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Return to -- Why Does It Take So Long To Get A Call Back From The Social Security Office?
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Return to -- Using a Lawyer for an SSDI Disability Case
Return to -- Social Security Disability SSI, Medical and Mental Conditions and Problems
Return to -- Disability Lawyers - Questions about Hiring a Disability Attorney
Return to -- Disability Lawyers in Various States
Return to -- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Filing for Disability
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