Preparing for a Social Security Disability hearing can feel overwhelming, especially when you only have a short amount of time to explain how your condition affects your ability to work. The key is to make your testimony clear, specific, honest, and consistent with your medical records.
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- Your testimony matters because the Administrative Law Judge only has your records and a limited amount of time to understand your daily limitations.
- Vague answers are not as helpful as specific examples with time limits, distances, weights, and frequency.
- Describing a typical day is more effective than focusing only on your best day or your worst day.
- Pain should be explained in detail, including where it happens, how long it lasts, what makes it worse, and what you have to do for relief.
- Mental limitations such as trouble concentrating, remembering instructions, handling stress, or interacting with others can be just as important as physical limitations.
- Practicing with an experienced Social Security Disability attorney before the hearing can help you give clear, consistent answers that match your medical evidence.
- The goal of the Social Security Disability hearing is to show that you are credible, honest, and unable to sustain full-time work because of your limitations.
Let’s take a closer look at these main points in more detail.
If you are getting ready for a Social Security Disability hearing, here’s something important to understand:
The Administrative Law Judge does not live in your body.
So that judge does not feel your pain. The judge does not see what happens in your home every day.
All the judge has are your medical records and about 45 minutes of testimony. That’s it.
So the real question becomes:
How do you clearly explain why you cannot work and why you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits?
As an experienced Social Security disability law firm, we prepare clients for hearings every single week.
These are some of the key strategies that can dramatically improve your chances of winning your disability case.
Why Your Testimony Matters in an SSDI Hearing
At most disability hearings, the Administrative Law Judge reviews:
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Medical records
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Your work history
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Testimony from you
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Testimony from a Vocational Expert
The Vocational Expert is critical. The Administrative Law Judge will ask the Vocational Expert whether someone with your limitations could perform jobs in the national economy.
That means your answers must clearly define your limitations.
If you say:
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“I can’t sit very long.”
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“I can’t walk very far.”
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“I can’t lift very much.”
That does not really help the Administrative Law Judge. Why? Because it’s too vague.
“Not very long” could mean 10 minutes… or 2 hours.
“Not very much” could mean 5 pounds… or 50 pounds.
Vague answers make it easier for the Administrative Law Judge to deny your Social Security Disability claim.
Be Specific About Your Physical Limitations
One of the most important Social Security disability hearing tips is this:
Be extremely specific.
Instead of saying:
“I can’t stand long.”
Say:
“I can stand for about 10 minutes before I need to sit down.”
Instead of saying:
“I can’t lift much.”
Say:
“I can frequently lift 5 to 7 pounds, like a small bag of groceries. Occasionally, maybe 10 to 15 pounds, but that’s it.”
Social Security uses specific terms like:
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Frequently (about 2/3 of the workday)
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Occasionally (about 1/3 of the workday)
When you work with The Krebs Law Firm, your disability lawyer will go over these definitions with you before the hearing.
Once you start speaking the same language that the Administrative Law Judge and the Vocational Expert use, then your testimony becomes far more powerful.
How to Talk About Your “Good Days” and “Bad Days”
Many of our disability clients struggle with this question:
“Some days are better than others. What do I tell the judge?”
Here’s the best approach.
Don’t describe your worst day. Don’t describe your best day. Why?
Because the Administrative Law Judge wants to know what your life is like most of the time.
If you say:
“Well, it depends…”
That makes it harder for the Administrative Law Judge to evaluate your ability to work.
Instead, say:
“On a typical day, I need to lie down for 45 minutes twice a day.”
“On a normal day, I can walk about one block.”
“Most days, I need help putting on my shoes.”
“On a bad day, I don’t get out of bed”
That paints a consistent and believable picture.
How to Describe Pain in a Disability Hearing
Saying “I’m in pain all the time” is not enough.
Instead, describe:
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Where the pain is located
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How long it lasts
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What makes it worse
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What you must do to relieve it
For example:
“ After sitting 20 minutes, I get a shooting pain down my left leg to my toes. I have to stand and stretch or lie down.”
Specific testimony improves credibility.
And credibility is everything in a Social Security Disability case.
Practice With Your Disability Attorney Before the Hearing
Every experienced Social Security Disability attorney should conduct a pre-hearing preparation call.
During that call, you should practice answering questions about:
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Sitting, standing, and walking
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Lifting and carrying
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Personal care (bathing, dressing, shoes)
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Driving
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Daily activities
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Concentration and focus
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Mental health symptoms
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Unscheduled breaks
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Medication side effects
The first time clients answer these questions, the answers are usually vague.
By the end of preparation, answers become clear, detailed, and consistent with the medical records.
That preparation can be the difference between winning and losing SSDI benefits.
Mental Limitations Matter Too
Not all disability cases are physical.
If your limitations are mental, you need to describe problems with:
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Concentration
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Persistence
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Pace
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Memory
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Emotional stability
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Social interaction
For example:
“I can focus for about 15 minutes before losing track.”
“I forget instructions unless they are written down.”
“I isolate and avoid people due to anxiety.”
These are terms that Social Security recognizes.
When you work with The Krebs Law Firm, your experienced Social Disability attorney will help you frame your testimony properly.
The Goal of Your SSDI Hearing
The goal of your hearing is to paint a clear picture for the Administrative Law Judge.
A picture that says:
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You would rather be working
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You are not exaggerating
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You are consistent with your medical records
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Your limitations prevent full-time work
When your testimony is specific and matches your medical evidence, it becomes very difficult for the Administrative Law Judge to say you are not credible.
And when credibility is strong, your chances of winning Social Security Disability benefits increase significantly.
Final Advice From a Social Security Disability Lawyer
If you remember nothing else, remember this:
The more specific you are, the better.
Vague answers hurt cases. Specific answers win cases.
If you are preparing for an SSDI or SSI hearing and need guidance, working with an experienced Social Security Disability attorney can dramatically improve your outcome.
A properly prepared hearing can make all the difference.
If you or a loved one need help winning Social Security Disability benefits, schedule a consultation and make sure you prepare thoroughly before your hearing.
Your future benefits depend on it.
We’re Here To Help
If you need help fighting for your Social Security disability rights, The Krebs Law firm offers free consultations. We can review your situation, help you determine the best course of action, and if you have a case, fight alongside you.
You could handle the matter alone, but the odds of successfully combatting a denial are higher with the help of a Social Security disability lawyer.
The Krebs Law Firm provides free consultations for Social Security Disability claimants, and we don’t get paid unless we win you the compensation you deserve. Set up your appointment with us without delay. You can reach our Springfield office at 417-883-5886 or toll free at 800-345-0535.
A Social Security disability lawyer can help make the process of getting the full amount you’re owed much easier. The Krebs Law Firm offers free consultations, and all it takes is giving us a call today.
Whether you’re making an initial Social Security Disability claim or striving to make an appeal, The Krebs Law Firm knows the ins and outs of the application process and offers free consultations to potential clients. You have nothing to lose by contacting us and everything to gain.
If you seek the help of a Social Security Disability attorney with your claim, the Krebs Law Firm has years of experience in helping our clients receive the full amount of Social Security Disability benefits that they rightly deserve in as timely a manner as possible. We know the ins and outs of the Social Security Disability process and would be happy to work with you.
At The Krebs Law Firm, we fight as hard as we can to help you get the disability coverage you deserve. Call our Springfield office today for a free consultation at 417-883-5886, our Columbia office at (573) 886-8976 or toll free at (800) 345-0535.
Jason Krebs is licensed in both Arkansas and Missouri. Our main office is in Springfield Missouri. Our Harrison Arkansas office is by appointment only. The address is 125 Industrial Park Road Suite E1 Harrison Arkansas 72601. Our local phone number in Harrison is (870) 741-8100. Our Toll Free phone number is (800) 345-0535. You can also send us an email to [email protected].
It can be daunting learning the ins and outs of Social Security Disability benefits, but it’s not a task you need to take on alone. Call on a Disability Attorney from The Krebs Law Firm to help you every step of the way.
We offer a free book on Social Security Disability benefits to Missouri and Arkansas residents. Give us a call today.
The Krebs Law Firm provides free consultations for Social Security Disability claimants, and we don’t get paid unless we win you the compensation you deserve. Set up your appointment with us without delay.