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    We Represent People With:

  • Physical Disabilities and Impairments, Psychiatric and Mental Disorders, Bipolar, PTSD, Deafness, Blindness, HIV/Aids, Cancer, Epilepsy, Schizophrenia, Depression, Mental Retardation, Cerebral palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Herniated Disk, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Arthritis, Stroke, Seizures, Hepatitis, Heart and Lung disease, Meniere's Disease, Crohn's Disease, Colitis, L.B.S., Myasthenia Gravis, Severe Headaches and Sleep Disorders, Amputation, Vocational Disabilities, MRSA who have wrongfully been denied their benefits.
Home :: FAQ :: Social Security Disability Hearing

How should I or my attorney prepare for a hearing?

  1. OBTAIN AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE FROM THE SSA WEBSITE. This is a general rule for all dealings with SSA.  At the hearing level, the majority of claimants are represented, and the SSA encourages its employees to cooperate as much as possible with requests for information or assistance from representatives.  However, every personal contact with hearing office personnel precludes the employee from performing other responsibilities relating to other hearing requests.  Every five minutes that is saved on individual claims converts to thousands of saved hours that can be devoted to processing other claims.

  2. TIMELY SUBMIT THE FORM SSA-1696 AND FEE AGREEMENT. If applicable, obtain and submit withdrawals and waivers from prior representatives to avoid possible delay in payment.

  3. ESTABLISH A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH HEARING OFFICE STAFF AND MANAGEMENT. Your attorney should participate in periodic group meetings with the Hearing Office Chief Administrative Law Judge and Hearing Office Director in the offices in which you practice.  Open dialogue allows both representatives and hearing offices to exchange suggestions as to how to improve service in the local area.

  4. YOUR ATTORNEY SHOULD TIMELY ALERT THE HEARING OFFICE OF ANY CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER FOR EITHER HIMSELF OR THE CLAIMANT. This would help reduce duplication of effort by hearing offices when notices are sent to either individual.

  5. YOU OR YOUR ATTORNEY SHOULD SUBMIT UPDATED SORM SSA-827 WITH THE REQUEST FOR HEARING.  If the hearing office needs to request information on short notice for a possible on-the-record (OTR) decision or a dire need review, or for any other reason, it is very helpful to have updated release forms already in the file.

  6. EVEN IF A CASE IS PENDING AT THE HEARING LEVEL, A FORM SSA-1695 SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE SSA FIELD OFFICE, NOT THE HEARING OFFICE. This form deals solely with payment to the representative and contains personal information, including a representative’s social security number.  If a SSA-1695 is received at a hearing office, it is immediately forwarded to the SSA field office for processing.  Submitting this form to the SSA field office initially would significantly reduce the time hearing office staff spend forwarding documentation, and reduce the likelihood that the form will either be lost or improperly associated with the claimant’s file.