If you are applying for Social Security Disability you should know what happens when you have a hearing.
It is very important because the hearing determines whether you will be granted benefits for the remainder of your life or not.
The people in the room will be yourself, the Administrative Law Judge, a hearing monitor and a vocational consultant.
The Administrative Law Judge works for Social Security and spends her days listening to testimony of people who allege they are disabled, and then she writes hearing decisions explaining why the claimant is either disabled or not.
The Judge is the most important person in the room.
She asks you questions and questions the vocational consultant and makes the final decision.
The hearing monitor records all of the statements, questions and answers in the event there is an appeal.
The Administrative Law Judge will ask the vocational consultant questions near the end of the hearing.
The Judge will want to know if there any jobs available based on certain physical and mental limitations.
Most cases will result in two category of responses from the vocational consultant.
The first group of responses are that there certain jobs available based on the restrictions.
The second group of responses are that there are no jobs available based on the restrictions.
The Judge has to decide which group you fit in.
If there are no jobs available to you, then you will be found disabled.
The hearing lasts approximately one hour.
You must explain within those 60 minutes why you are not able to work.
Questions about how to make sure you win those 60 minutes with the Judge? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.