What Is an ALJ Hearing in South Bend?

How to Finally Win Social Security Disability Benefits

An ALJ hearing—or disability hearing for short—is the second stage of the appeal process for Social Security Disability benefits. In this hearing you appear in front of an administrative law judge, the ALJ, and get the chance to make the case that they should approve your disability benefits.

Qualifying for disability benefits is usually difficult. Most people get denied, but the Social Security Administration (SSA) offers multiple chances to appeal the decision.

The first step of appeals is “reconsideration,” in which another claims examiner looks at your application to see if they would grant benefits that the first examiner denied. If you get denied again, then it’s time for a hearing.

Don’t go into your hearing with an administrative law judge alone. This is likely your best chance to win benefits that could help restore your financial independence.

You should have help from someone with experience in disability hearings. Work with a Michiana disability lawyer who is familiar with the local Social Security offices and judges who preside over ALJ hearings.

The Morgan Law Firm has helped thousands of people in South Bend, Elkhart and all over Michiana.

If you work with a big national disability representative firm or company instead of someone local, you may be treated more like a case number than an actual person. You may not even meet with your lawyer until the day of your hearing. You may not even get a lawyer, but a nonlawyer advocate.

Instead, talk to The Morgan Law Firm. We know seeking disability benefits is a personal process, so we treat you with the personal attention you deserve.

Disability lawyer Anne Morgan and her team will answer your questions and make sure you walk into your ALJ hearing prepared to make your case.

And you won’t pay an attorney fee until you win benefits.

What Happens at an ALJ Hearing?

Your hearing doesn’t take place in a courtroom with a jury and people watching from the gallery.

Many take place by video or phone these days. If you have an in-person hearing, it will be in a small meeting room with few people.

The judge will ask you questions about your symptoms and how they affect your ability to work and handle daily tasks.

The judge might invite expert witnesses to talk about your medical condition, your work background and the types of jobs that might be possible for someone like you.

They could argue you can work and don’t need benefits. Your lawyer can cross-examine them and bring out a better understanding of how your medical struggles interfere with your daily activities and the abilities you need to manage a job.

The administrative law judge usually makes their decision within a few weeks.

You’re not required to have a lawyer in your hearing, but a South Bend disability lawyer can help you tell your story, talk about your health and show how your symptoms make it impossible to work.

Government studies have found that people who have representatives at their disability hearings are much more likely to be approved for benefits.

The team at The Morgan Law Firm will help you prepare in advance to ensure your file has all the evidence needed and that you are ready to answer the most likely questions.

If you want to make the most of this opportunity to win benefits, work with a local disability lawyer who knows the system in the area.

Whether you applied for disability on your own or worked with another lawyer before, we can guide you.

Start with a FREE case consultation.

What Kinds of Questions Should I Expect at a Disability Hearing?

The administrative law judge will ask questions about your health, what your typical day is like, what your job demanded of you and just about anything that could be relevant to your illness and inability to work.

Your lawyer can help you think about the types of questions to expect. You want to answer clearly and concisely. Avoid vague or wandering answers.

Here are some examples of questions you might hear:

When did you last work?
What happened when you last tried to work?
How do you manage in your everyday life, with chores, errands and taking care of yourself?
What symptoms do you experience and how often do you experience them?
What educational background and vocational training do you have?
How long can you sit, stand or walk without needing a break?
How much can you lift or carry?
Can you bend, crawl, stoop or climb ladders?
Do you think that you could do a less physical job?
Do you have difficulty concentrating or remembering things?
Are you sticking to a prescribed treatment plan?
Are there side effects to your treatments?
Do you need help with personal care tasks like cooking, dressing and bathing?
Are there any activities you enjoy that you can no longer do?

You should be frank about how your symptoms impact your life, but you shouldn’t oversell them.

If the judge thinks you can transition into another career or that your health problem won’t last for a significant time, you could be denied disability benefits again.

But hearing from you firsthand can also be convincing to the judge. Benefits approval rates at the hearing level are generally higher than any other point in the disability claims process.

What Are My Chances of Winning Benefits at an ALJ Hearing?

How much better are your chances to win Social Security Disability benefits after a disability hearing?

Let’s start from the beginning. Around 35% of initial disability claims get approved. In some places only 10% to 12% of claims are approved during reconsideration, the first stage of appeals.

Compare these odds to disability hearings, which have an approval rate of around 50% nationally.

Your odds can improve even more if you work with a Michiana disability lawyer. Government numbers have shown that claimants with representation secured benefits at a rate nearly three times higher than people who tried to make their cases on their own.

The team at The Morgan Law Firm can help you with each stage of the appeals process, including your ALJ hearing.

We’ll help you strengthen your claim with more evidence, stay aware of important deadlines and make sure you understand what to expect before your disability hearing.

We help people in Indiana and Michigan fight for the benefits they deserve after the Social Security Disability program denied them.

The monthly payments and medical coverage can make a major difference in your life after a health problem has stopped you from working, so let’s work hard to get you approved.

Frequently Asked Questions About Disability Hearings

When can I request an ALJ hearing?

You can request an ALJ hearing only after you’ve been denied benefits twice. You have to be denied disability on your initial application, and then you have to be denied again during reconsideration, the first stage of appeals.

Getting denied multiple times is frustrating, but the hearing step is probably your best chance to win benefits, especially if you work with a Michiana disability lawyer who can properly prepare you.

How long do I have to request an ALJ hearing?

Each stage of disability appeals has a 60-day deadline. If you wait too long to request your hearing, you may have to start over with a new application for benefits.

Once I ask for a hearing, how long before it takes place?

It takes several months to reach your hearing day. Hearing offices in Indiana and Michigan have recently seen wait times of seven or eight months.

How long does it take to get a decision after an ALJ hearing?

In most cases, a hearing decision should come within a few weeks. Wait times vary based on the judge, their caseload and the complexity of your disability claim.

Will there be a jury or audience at my ALJ hearing?

No, the only people at your hearing will be you, the judge, your representative, a court assistant and possibly expert witnesses.

What happens if I get denied benefits after my ALJ hearing?

There are two more stages of appeals, petitioning the Social Security Appeals Council and suing in federal court. The Morgan Law Firm can assist you with both and keep your chances at winning benefits alive.

What Is an ALJ Hearing for Disability in South Bend?

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How to Finally Win Social Security Disability Benefits

What Happens at an ALJ Hearing?

What Kinds of Questions Should I Expect at a Disability Hearing?