Unfortunately, Social Security disability benefits can be more difficult to obtain than you might expect. Even when you think you have all your ducks in a row, you might receive notice that your claim has been denied or that you will need to come in to testify in front of a judge. If this is the case for you, you have some options. This guide will provide you with tips you can use to earn the benefits you deserve if you have an upcoming hearing:
1. Expect to Wait
Unfortunately, even if you are approved for disability benefits you might be waiting for a long time. Some people wait longer than a year for the news. In other cases, you might be waiting for more than a year just to hear that you have a hearing coming up. You might not even get notice of the hearing until mere weeks ahead of time.
2. Be Clear about Your Physical Limitations
Many people opt to focus on the specific disabilities they have rather than the actual limitations. This is a mistake, as it may become more difficult to prove a medical listing rather than to emphasize your specific needs.
3. Gather Medical Proof, Especially for Mental Illness
Mental illness disability is one of the most difficult types of illnesses to prove. If you are going in for a hearing, you might find that it feels impossible to prove your condition to a judge. Unlike physical disabilities, mental illness is typically unseen. To top it off, judges are always skeptical of disability cases already. This means that you need to compile a history of your appointments, medications, and other evidence.
4. Compile Your Work History
You will need to bring to court a comprehensive work history for as far back as possible. You need to provide a list of the jobs, job titles, and list of responsibilities, much like a resume. You must also be prepared to discuss how each responsibility is affected negatively by your disability, preventing you from working in positions like these.
5. Hire an Attorney
Hiring an attorney is essential. Your attorney will help you work on answers to questions you are likely to be asked. Your attorney will also help you find witnesses who can testify on your behalf.
When you are ready to hire an attorney for your disability case, you have many options. Make sure to hire a disability lawyer with experience that you can trust. Check out a website like http://www.chichesterlaw.com for more information and assistance.
Share22 August 2017
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