Suing for Damages in a Personal Injury Case

If you have recently filed an application for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) has scheduled a hearing that you must attend, then it is important that you know how to properly answer the questions you will be asked. By answering the SSA's questions correctly, you can help move along your claim through the approval process. 

Here are some tips to help you prepare for answering questions from the SSA about your SSDI claim:

Tip: Review Your SSDI Disability Application Before Your Hearing

Since the judge at your hearing is going to ask you questions pertaining to the information you provided on your disability application, you should sit down and carefully review the information before your hearing. While you do not need to memorize specific dates when you were hospitalized, for example, you do need to have a basic timeline memorized so you can answer questions about the progression of your debilitating condition. 

Tip: Be Prepared to Explain Gaps in Your Medical Treatment

If your disability has been progressing over a long period of time, then it is understandable that you will have times where you spent a lot of time in doctor's offices and then times when you were working. You should be prepared to answer questions about these gaps in your medical treatment because the judge will likely ask you about them. If you were able to work but did so with a lot of pain, then you should explain this to the judge.

Tip: Avoid Rambling Because You Are Nervous

It is natural that you may tend to talk more and ramble on when you are nervous. However, you need to consciously control this tendency when you are being asked questions at your SSDI hearing. If you ramble, then you may leave out important information and confuse the judge. Instead, you should practice your answers to basic questions and plan to answer every question as succinctly as possible.

Tip: Hire a Disability Attorney to Assist You with Your SSDI Claim and Attend Your Hearing

Finally, if you choose to do so, you can hire a disability attorney to help you with your SSDI claim and attend your hearing with the SSA. Lawyers who frequently process disability claims are the best professionals to advise you about filling out your disability forms and answering specific questions the SSA's judge asks you at your disability hearing. 

For more information, talk to a professional like Iler and Iler.