Originally Posted by JohnSmiht

Im new here, I apologize if this is the wrong forum.

I finally had a hearing for SSI. In the room was me, my lawyer, the judge, his stenographer, and the vocational expert. The judge asked me about 7 or 8 questions which he wanted very short to the point answers. He then turned it over to my lawyer to ask me questions. We had around a dozen questions prepared that explained my condition(Crohn's Disease)current state and various complications. After question 3 from my lawyer, he stopped her and said he had heard enough. He didnt ask the vocational expert any questions at all. The total hearing lasted under 15 minutes. I thought he was supposed to allow my lawyer similar time to ask questions as he took. I can understand, if my lawyer had asked me 50 questions, but we barely got through 3 short answers from my questions. I thought he would have at least asked the vocational expert a couple questions.

I thought that it was a bad sign he ended the hearing so quickly without me getting a chance to explain my condition. I have 2 hospital visits and numerous doctors visits since I first filed, so my file has a lot to go through. My lawyer thought it went well, and thinks I won. She said the hearing being short is a good sign.

It was very difficult to read the judge, so no idea what his ruling will be. Has anyone been through a short hearing with zero testimony from the vocational expert before? I figure if it went as well as my lawyer thought, he would have awarded a bench judgement, but he didnt say anything really. Any ideas how I can explain my condition and difficulties, if the judge wont allow the lawyer to ask many questions? The whole thing has me really confused. Im use to rejection by now, but I figured I would at least get a chance to give full testimony on my disability like it said I would be able to in the hearing letter. I was excited to finally get to explain what is going on in person, but I wasnt even allowed to do that in a hearing either. Thanks for any advice.