Unfortunately, many Social Security Disability (SSD) claims result in denial. However, this denial is not the end of your journey in filing a claim.
You have the right to appeal a decision from the Social Security Administration (SSA). If your second attempt fails, you can try again by requesting a disability hearing before an administrative law judge.
Where will the hearing take place?
The SSA tries to make it easy for applicants to attend their hearings. Most occur within 75 miles of the applicant at an SSA office or a rented venue.
If you live in Indianapolis, your disability hearing will likely occur at the city’s downtown SSA office. You should receive a notice detailing the time and location of your hearing at least 20 days in advance.
What can you expect at the hearing?
A court official will swear you and any witnesses (doctors, vocational professionals, etc.) in, meaning you will be under oath going forward. What follows typically involves the judge hearing testimony from the assembled parties.
For example, judges often pose hypothetical questions to vocational experts. They may ask about the work those suffering from your disability (or a similar one) can perform.
If the judge does not ask you questions, you may request to speak and make your case. Some people prefer to have their legal counsel perform this task. You or your representative also have the right to ask the witnesses and experts questions. Everything said at the hearing is recorded to preserve evidence and testimony.
Can a hearing help your claim?
Your disability hearing can make a difference in whether your SSD claim succeeds. We suggest learning about your next steps if your SSD claim results in a denial of benefits.