The Ten Commandments for testifying at your Social Security disability hearing
Our Ohio Social Security lawyers represent disability clients from all over Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and West Virginia, and the one thing that all our clients have in common is that they are confused and frustrated in dealing with the bureaucracy of the Social Security Administration. Many of these clients have asked for a simple set of rules that they could follow. These Ten Commandments are a response to that request for rules about what to do at a hearing about your entitlement to Social Security disability benefits.
1. Dress appropriately. You only have one chance to make a good first impression. Men should wear long pants and a shirt with long sleeves. No need to wear a coat and tie. Women and men should dress modestly without makeup or jewelry. Cover up those tattoos!
2. Show respect to the Judge and other court staff. Address the Judge as “judge” or “your honor.”
3. Listen to the questions and answer them with short answers. If a question can be answered yes or no, answer that way.
4. Do not volunteer information you think might help your case. That’s my job and it will only make you look like you are trying too hard.
5. If you don’t know the answer to a question, it’s ok to say you don’t know.
6. Speak slowly and clearly to the Judge.
7. Don’t exaggerate your disabilities. If you are asked to rate your pain on a scale of one to ten, don’t say 14!
8. Try to be specific. The Judge will ask you how long you can stand, how far you can walk and how much you can lift and carry on a regular basis. “Not very far” or “not very much” isn’t helpful and the Judge will only ask you to describe what that means to you. Be prepared to give specifics, such as “I can only walk a block or two before I need to rest” or “I can lift a gallon of milk occasionally, but wouldn’t be able to do it all day.”
9. Don’t use complicated medical terms to describe your condition. If you can’t exert yourself because you have heart disease, it’s enough to say that you tire after a few minutes and can’t walk more than a block or two without resting.
10. Always tell the truth about everything. This is the Golden Rule. If the Judge believes you are lying or exaggerating you will probably lose your Social Security disability case.
Get the help you need for your Social Security disability claim
We understand how strange and frustrating the Social Security disability appeal process can be if you are not used to it. We have experience working on these cases, and can handle everything for you.
If you are not already represented by an Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, or West Virginia Social Security disability attorney and want our evaluation, give us a brief description of your claim using the form to the right.
Or you may e-mail or call our office at:
The Aebi Law Firm
Social Security disability attorneys
Serving Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan
E-mail
Phone: 740-397-8875
Fax: 740-393-0781
Toll free: 877-366-9107
111 S. Mulberry St.
Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050
