Unfortunately, they do not.

While many Administrative Law Judges tell claimants they will receive a decision in about 30 days, they are not bound by law to do this. And in far too many cases, Judges will act in utter disregard of the claimant by not issuing a decision for several months.

Why should a claimant, who has already waited several months for a hearing, have to wait another several months for a Judge to make a decision on their case? How come the Administration doesn’t have regulations in place for Judges to issue a decision within a specific time?

Many disability recipients face serious financial hardships while they are waiting for their case to be decided. Whether it’s an eviction notice or an overdue utility bill, the determination on whether a person is disabled or not can have crucial implications on a claimant’s life. A Federal Administrative Law Judge should not be allowed to take their time when issuing a decision.

CLICK HERE to check out this great video on the types of experts that might appear in a disability hearing. Scott Daniels, a disability lawyer for Markhoff & Mittman, dissects expert testimony and what you can do to increase your chances of winning your claim.

Scott Daniels, a disability lawyer with the office of Markhoff & Mittman, conducted a lecture on social security disability law where he discussed the procedural aspects of a hearing. Mainly, whether the federal rules of evidence apply in a disability hearing.

CLICK HERE to view his short video and to find out what rules of evidence apply in a disability hearing.

If you, or someone you know, are hesitant to hire a qualified disability attorney, think again. CLICK HERE to read up on a few scenarios where a claimant can really get burned if they choose to represent themselves at a hearing.

But one particular Judge in the state of New York thinks otherwise. Check out this little article we found about a recent ruling that could have serious ramifications on an NFL player’s ability to collect worker’s compensation benefits.

In several instances throughout the disability process, an attorney is not necessarily needed. It is certainly not a requirement. But if your application is denied upon an initial application, the next phase in the state of New York is the hearing level. Here, a Federal Administrative Law Judge will analyze the case and make a decision on whether or not you are entitled to benefits. An attorney who is well versed in the area disability law can be a world of difference in your case.

As with most attorneys, fees are associated with the representation of claimants, but the federal governement has regulated these fees. Most, if not all disability lawyers, adhere to a contingency fee system in which the lawyer is not paid unless the claimant receives a fully favorable decision. 

To learn more about what a qualified disability lawyer can do for you at the hearing level, CLICK HERE.

A work history provides insight into how long a potential disability recipient has contributed into the Social Security system. Someone with a long and steady work history will be favored by a disability ananlyst or Administrative Law Judge because the program was designed to compensate individuals who have contributed into the system.

A work history also provides information about the claimant’s job skills. Claimant’s who have held supervisory roles or positions that require a particular skillset might be more employable than a claimant who has worked in one industry all of their lives. 

Social Security is interested in a person’s work history over the last 15 years. Each and every job held in the last 15 years can potentially shed light on what a claimant might be able to do in the workforce.

For more information about why an employment history is important to a disability claim, please visit www.markhofflaw.com

Nonetheless, hearings are an important step in the disability process if claimant’s are determined to be deemed disabled by the Social Security Administration. But while most people understand what a hearing is, many misunderstand what actually takes place at a hearing.

Not every hearing is the same and in some cases, the cast of characters is different. But the goal of the hearing is always the same: to elicit testimony from a claimant as to why they are unable to perform in the workplace.

To find out what goes on at a disability hearing and what kinds of questions may be asked, CLICK HERE to read this detailed article.

Certain disability claims are complicated. The medical evidence might be highly complex and often times, the procedural aspects of your case might also be difficult to understand. If this is the case, Administrative Law Judges frequently allow claimants to delay, or adjourn, their case so the claimant can seek representation.

As I’ve mentioned many times before on this blog, hiring a lawyer can seriously increase your chances of getting disability benefits. But when a Judge recommends that you hire a lawyer for your claim, it’s usually an indication that you should be represented by an attorney.

For more information on how to find the right lawyer, CLICK HERE.

Often times, claimants rely too much on hospital records, surgical reports and single opinions of treating sources. While these pieces of evidence do help in supporting a disability claim, there is one type of evidence that can be the “icing on the cake” in a disability claim.

To find out what type of medical evidence I am referring to, CLICK HERE to learn more about increasing your chances of winning your disability case.