Stories, Word Pictures and Your Social Security Disability Case

You should do anything legitimate you can to help your Social Security Disability case.

Because it is very tough to win these days.

Disability Judges work under heightened scrutiny and there are large number of cases coming before them.

You must stand out in some way.

Remember, Judges are human.

Making your situation pop, believable, understandable and deserving of compassion is vital.

Beyond making sure that you tell your doctor your major problems and limitations, you must tell a good story at the hearing.

Stories have stood out over the centuries. Great truths are wrapped in the stories that Homer, Jesus, and Shakespeare told and stick in our minds.

It is not enough to explain that you have chest pain. It is more memorable to testify that when you start cleaning the kitchen you have to rest after a couple minutes because of chest pain.

It is not enough to testify that you cannot stand or walk for very long. You should be able to tell the Judge that after you walk around the block your arthritis kicks in with shooting pain and you need to sit down and rest for 10 to 20 minutes.

Judges often equate daily activities with being able to work full time.

You must paint the picture of your day and how you are off task for over 20 percent of the day due to pain and why you need to miss more than 2 days per month.

It is important to do more than show up for your hearing.

Questions about the best way to tell your story? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Attorney Dirk May with Williams and Swee at 309-827-4371.