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It is a practical and important question.

Where do I have my Social Security disability hearing and how will I get there?

In large cities it may not be such a big deal, but in Central Illinois things are spread out.

The Social Security Disability hearing office is located in Peoria, Illinois.

If you live in Bloomington or Pontiac you will have to travel to the hearing site in Peoria.

If you are closer to Decatur or Springfield, then you will go these cities for a video hearing.

If you are near Galesburg then you have a video hearing also.

You are on your own for getting to the disability hearing.

You must provide your own transportation or get a ride from a friend or a cab to the hearing site.

If you have to travel far enough Social Security will provide you with mileage reimbursement.

I often provide a ride to my clients if they need it.

This may be inconvenient for the client since I often have more than one hearing. So they will have to wait until I am finished and may have to leave early with me.

The advantage is that we have some extra time to discuss your case and what Social Security is looking for in determining whether or not you are disabled.

Questions about Disability and ways to make sure you qualify? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Lawyer Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

How can you tell if the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Company is treating you right?

If you are off work are they paying you 2/3rds of your average weekly wage?

If you are getting medical treatment are they paying your medical bills?

If you need a specialist are they making sure that you get your medical treatment as soon as possible?

If you need surgery has it been scheduled so that you can start your physical therapy and get back to work quickly?

If you have had all your medical treatment and returned to work has the insurance company offered you a settlement?

Is the settlement offer fair for the injury and treatment you received?

If you have not been able to return to work because of permanent restrictions is the insurance company helping you do a job search?

These are some of the major tests for determining whether the Work Comp insurance company is following the law.

If you are having problems in any of these areas you should contact an experienced Work Comp lawyer as soon as possible.

In Illinois Workers’ Compensation cases there are no attorney fees unless there is a recovery.

Questions about your Work injury? Feel free to contact Illinois Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

Social Security Disability often comes down to a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.

The Judge’s job is to decide whether you are disabled.

The Judge will ask a series of questions.

The hearing itself lasts about one hour.

The Judge will ask you about your living arrangements.

The Judge will ask you about your work and educational background.

She will also ask about your problems that keep you from working and what you do all day long and the chores you can do.

Sometimes the Judge will ask you if you use street drugs or alcohol.

Sometimes the Judge will ask if you have received unemployment benefits in the last couple of years.

The tone the Judge uses varies.

In other words, some Social Security Judges are very stern, almost angry.

They will seem to be accusing you of faking your illness.

Or they will seem to be condemning you for not working.

You have no control over who is your Social Security Disability Judge.

But, the most important thing to remember is to always be polite with the Disability Judge and explain what your limitations are and why they keep you from walking.

When you are before the Judge it is your chance to explain your story and flesh out the medical records.

The best thing to do is paint the picture of how your daily activities are limited by your pain.

Questions about your Social Security Disability case? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Lawyer Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

When you apply for Social Security Disability should you tell your doctor that you are trying for disability?

It will certainly show up in your medical records if you tell your doctor.

The records will say something like this: “patient has been trying to get disability”.

Looks innocent enough.

However, some Social Security Judges take it the wrong way.

They think that you are somehow trying to persuade your doctor to be an advocate for your Social Security case.

Other judges could care less when something like this shows up in the medical records.

The problem is that some doctors have a tainted view of Social Security Disability.

The doctor thinks that it is welfare program, or their own beliefs color their thinking and they do not believe anyone should be on disability.

The safe way is to not say anything to your doctor about applying for Social Security Disability.

However, you should and must tell the doctor about your major problems and how they limit you.

This should be done at every appointment.

This is very important to winning your case.

For instance, my hands ache all the time and are numb most of the day. It makes it hard for me to handle, grip and use my fingers.

Always tell your doctor about your problems and how it affects your daily activities.

Questions about what you need to do to win your Social Security Disability case? Feel free to contact Illinois Social Security Disability Attorney Dirk May at 309-827-4371.