SOCIAL SECURITY HEARING FORMS
Gordon & Pont • July 10, 2019
FILL THEM OUT WITH CARE
Hearing Forms
The last forms before your Social Security Hearing – Fill Them Out With Care.
Before being awarded Social Security Disability benefits, most applicants will have to go through an Administrative Hearing. Depending on the backlog in your particular area, you should expect that it will take 12 – 24 months from the time you submit your initial application to be scheduled for a hearing. By the time you receive the Notice of Hearing, you will have a new impairing condition – Form Fatigue.
Form Fatigue
is that inescapable condition that results from Social Security’s incessant demands for forms from its applicants. By the time an applicant’s Administrative Hearing is scheduled, he will have been called upon to fill out an Application form, a Request for Administrative Hearing, 2-3 disability forms, 1-2 function report forms, 1-2 work history reports, authorizations and maybe more.
The unfortunate result of Form Fatigue
is that by the time the Claimant receives their Hearing Forms, they are tempted to dismiss them or not give them the careful consideration they do require. Succumbing to Form Fatigue
is a mistake.
Several months before your hearing date, you will receive your Notice of Hearing, and with it 4 more
forms. Most people are so excited to finally have a hearing scheduled they may overlook these forms. They are important, so let’s go through each:
1st: Acknowledgement of Hearing. This one is very simple. All you need do is sign it, check that you will attend your hearing and send it to the OHO(Office of Hearings Operations).
2nd: Recent Medical Treatment: In this form, you are to give detailed contact information for each medical provider you have been treated by since the date you submitted your appeal for hearing and the approximate period of treatment. This includes treatment in hospitals whether it be in-patient or ER visits. Also, you are asked to explain what your doctors have told you about your condition.
[Attorney Comment:
Due to Form Fatigue, many give only the barest of information, and leave off medical providers, ER treatment and critical contact information – addresses and phone numbers.]
3rd: Current Medications: For each prescription and non-prescription medication you currently take, set forth: The reason you take the medication, the dose you take, the approximate date you started taking the medication (if remembered) and the name of the medical provider advising you to take it.
[Attorney Comment:
Due to Form Fatigue, many leave off medications. Check and recheck it. And, while this is not requested, I suggest that you say whether there are any medications your doctors have had you try but that you could not continue with, especially if it is due to drug intolerance, side effects and/or bad interaction with other medications and/or risks regarding other medical problems. For instance, a medication that may be great for depression may cause increased issues of hypertension. You want your attorney and your judge to know that.]
4th: Work Background: Here you are to detail the work, if any, that you have done since submitting your appeal. It is not necessary to repeat information you have provided in earlier forms.
[Attorney Comment:
If you have returned to work, and/or have made a failed work attempt, it is critical that your attorney know about that work as soon as possible. This information will impact the strategy going forward on the case and will require another form…..].
These Claimant Statements/Hearing Forms are important and need to be done with as much accuracy as you can muster. By the time the case is ready for hearing, your file will exceed 300 pages and could easily be as thick as a few thousand pages. The Judge will read your hearing forms for a quick summary of what has been happening with your health in the year or so since the appeal was filed. Depending on your judge’s method of hearing preparation, these forms may be the very first information on your case that your judge sees. First impressions count.
Best cures for form fatigue: Deep breaths, organization and a win at the end.
Submitted by: Tracey Cahn, Esq.
Ms. Cahn has been advocating for Social Security Claimants throughout NJ, NY, CT, and PA since 2002.
Struggling with a delayed claim? A Social Security attorney in Detroit, MI can help speed up the process. Contact Gordon & Pont PC today at (248) 395-4100!
KEY TAKEAWAYS • If it’s complicated applying for Social Security benefits, or if a disability claim has been rejected, you can enlist an attorney for help. • Be sure to identify lawyers with special knowledge and expertise in Social Security claims and know their way around the system. • Make sure the lawyer you choose has a solid reputation, track record, and ethical grounding. • Many of these lawyers will take a retroactive fee based on Social Security benefits received from a successful case—limited to 25% of your past-due benefits up to a maximum of $9,200. Pre-Qualify Yourself Before even looking for a lawyer, know the basics of Social Security. Most cases that may need the help of a lawyer involve disability claims. Social Security disability is for people who have a medical condition that fits Social Security’s definition of a disability. And to qualify, you must have worked in jobs covered by Social Security. In other words, if you never paid into Social Security, you’re not going to get anything out. If you have not worked enough or recently enough to “insured” for social security disability benefits, you may still qualify for SSI if you meet both the medical and non-medical (meaning financial) requirements. If you do qualify, you can get monthly benefits checks only if you are unable to work for at least one year because of a disability. What a Lawyer Can and Can’t Do A lawyer can speed up your application or appeal because can help you avoid mistakes and can submit needed documents faster. However, the SSA is woefully understaffed which means everything is taking longer than it should. While a lawyer can’t guarantee that you’ll win, your chances of success improve greatly. Because we are paid only once we win, experienced lawyers are skilled in identifying strong cases. How to Find the Right Lawyer You can find Social Security disability lawyers in a variety of ways. The internet has plenty of lawyer referral sites. Legal aid clinics and referral services operated by state bar associations are also sources for the names of people to interview. Be careful. Just because you find an attorney by searching one of these sources doesn’t guarantee they’ll be good, ethical lawyers. A better way to put together a list of lawyers to interview is probably through word of mouth, in person, or through social media, from people who have had good experiences with a Social Security disability lawyer and by reading reviews from former clients. Red Flags Make sure you speak to and hire a real lawyer and not an “advocate” or the like. Be cautious of “case managers” and insist on speaking with your lawyer. Although disability lawyers are busy, you want to hire one who has a staff of people who will answer any questions you have accurately and promptly. How Much Will It Cost? Cases will cost you nothing upfront. Lawyers take their fees from any retroactive benefits you’re awarded from Social Security. The fee is limited to 25% of your past-due benefits, up to a maximum of $9,200. The attorney will have you sign a document that allows Social Security to pay the law firm directly. If you get nothing, you owe the lawyer nothing. Because the lawyer will likely have to request medical, school, work, and psychological records that come with a cost, they might pass on that fee to you. This should be a couple of hundred dollars at most. Setting up a patient portal with our doctor or hospital is an excellent way to avoid that cost. Since it costs you nothing unless and until you win, consider talking to somebody if you file a claim and get turned down initially. The Bottom Line You should get an attorney’s help if you’re having trouble applying for Social Security benefits or if a disability claim has been rejected. Identify lawyers with special knowledge and expertise in Social Security claims and who know their way around the system. Make sure your lawyer has a solid reputation, track record, and ethical grounding.
Get expert tips from a Social Security benefits attorney in Detroit, MI, to maximize your benefits. Contact Gordon & Pont PC today at (248) 395-4100!
Learn why hiring a disability attorney over a non-attorney advocate can benefit your Social Security Disability claim. Discover key differences in qualifications, legal expertise, ethical protections, and more.
Gordon & Pont is a highly reputable Social Security Disability law firm in Detroit, offering expert legal assistance for claims, appeals, and hearings. With years of experience, they provide personalized, compassionate representation to help clients secure the benefits they deserve. Learn about the SSA’s Sequential Evaluation Process for SSDI and SSI benefits. Understand the five steps, including work capacity, severity of medical conditions, and past work limitations. Get expert help from Gordon & Pont to navigate the process and improve your chances of success. Call for a consultation!
The timeline for Social Security Disability benefits can vary, but understanding the process—from initial application to appeal—can help you avoid delays. Learn how to speed up your claim and why hiring an experienced lawyer like Gordon & Pont is essential for a faster resolution. Call 248-395-4100 today and speak to an attorney about your case.
Learn about the SSA’s Sequential Evaluation Process for SSDI and SSI benefits. Understand the five steps, including work capacity, severity of medical conditions, and past work limitations. Get expert help from Gordon & Pont to navigate the process and improve your chances of success. Call 248-395-4100 today and speak to an attorney about your case.
Learn how Social Security work credits are earned and how many are needed to qualify for SSDI benefits. Discover the requirements, including the Date Last Insured (DLI), and get expert help from Gordon & Pont for your SSDI case. Contact us today for guidance! Call 248-395-4100 today and speak to an attorney about your case.
Denied SSDI or SSI benefits? Understand the Social Security Appeals process, including reconsideration requests, ALJ hearings, and further appeals. Get expert legal help from Gordon & Pont to improve your chances of success. Contact us today for a consultation! Call 248-395-4100 today and speak to an attorney about your case.