When you are thinking about what to expect at a hearing, the prospect of a judge making a decision that will so greatly affect your life can be pretty daunting. But the truth is that these hearings are rather informal.
To discuss what to expect at a hearing, contact one of our St. Louis Social Security Disability benefits lawyers online or call us at 314-231-6660.
These proceedings are private and take place in a conference room rather than a courtroom, with an administrative law judge. There is no lawyer on the other side.
In most cases, the judge will bring in a vocational expert. These professionals are called in on a case-by-case basis as neutrals to evaluate your job history and determine if you have any transferrable skills which can be used in less physically demanding jobs that can be performed with your medical restrictions. Sometimes, the judge will bring in a physician to interpret technical medical data. Our Social Security benefits attorneys will have the opportunity to question these expert witnesses.
You will be sworn to tell the truth, but other than that, the hearing does not use rules of evidence. The judge and one of our Social Security Disability benefits lawyers will ask you questions about your medical problems, treatment and ongoing care, and they will ask for details about how this affects your day-to-day life.
In most cases, a decision is not issued at the hearing. The judge will then issue a formal hearing decision, which is a technical and very detailed legal and medical analysis of your case.
For more information on what to expect at a hearing or to schedule an appointment to discuss your SSD case with an attorney from our Missouri firm, contact us today.
We take pride in the strong professional and personal relationships we build with each client. You will meet with the attorney early on and that same attorney will be with you throughout the process. You can rely on us to give you honest advice about your options because this is the right thing to do.
As your advocates, we will remain by your side throughout the process, developing a strategy that fits your specific circumstances. Your legal and financial issues are unique, so we tailor our advice according to your situation. Many individuals and families have benefited from this legal approach.
