To all that have gone through the ALJ hearing process........

Care to share your experiences ?

Your outcomes ?

Still waiting to hear?

What was YOUR judge like?

ALJ hearing: 2005

My hearing was 3 years from my initial filing.
Hired an attorney just for the hearing.
Hearing held in an abandoned Home Depot building
Hearing lasted approximately 2 hours.
I went to the hearing professionally dressed (power suit) as if I was going to work, looking like I was in perfect health! I thought we would be in a real court room.
It was obvious the judge had reviewed my case the night before as he flipped through the pages he wanted - he had tabbed them.
Had 2 witnesses who were interviewed by the judge separately w/o me there. I had to leave the lumber section to sit at the far end of the abandoned store - plant section.
Judge asked me a few questions relating to my job & my disability. Judge asked my attorney only ONE question during the whole 2 hours.
Vocational "expert" sat in. Every question the judge asked him, the answer was always "no."
Court reporter typing away!!!!
One bathroom break.

30 days later, received my final approval letter. Same week as I was "trying" to balance my check book by calling my bank, I realized I had hit the jackpot the week before & didn't even realize it!
Me -->

Hi Mz MIgraine,

Thank you so very much for sharing your experience. My hearing is in less than 48 hours. My attorney said to dress with the same respect as if I were attending a family funeral as it is a court proceeding. Seems mine will be held in a courtroom type environment with the judge sitting elevated from the position of myself and attorney.

I really appreciate your taking the time to share with me.

dont use makeup to cover the tiredness or wear from pain. dont dress too well. be yourself. look the judge in the eye when you answer. answer the question asked. dont go into a lengthy answer unless it is really called for. they dont ask too many open ended questions except maybe what do you do during your day. if its a long hearing, ask the judge if it is ok to stand for a while if you have pain issues. think before you answer a question, every question, take a few seconds. if you dont understand the question ask the judge if they could repeat it or rephrase it. if you dont know the answer to a question say so. unlike mz migraine, my hearing only took about 10 minutes tops.

good luck

mine took about 45 minutes. i dresed as my atty advised me to, as if i were going to dinner with family. it was held via video at my local ss office. iit was stressful because the judge did pry into things that upset me. he didnt seem to be paying any attention to me, he kept shuffling thru all kinds of papers, never looking at me much. after testimony, he asked the ve if i could return to my former jobs, and the ve said yes. my atty then asked if the ve had seen my recent rfc from my neuro, the ve said no. after reviewing it, the ve said no, i couldnt return to any former job and no job in ntl economy. i was awarded benefits via letter appx 8 weeks later. i agree with echoes, yes/no answers, do not veer off topic. do npt volunteer information. speak when spoken to, yes sir, no sir, and keep answers to the point always.

actually yes or no your honor cant hurt

Thank you for this thread! VERY much appreciated!

Rae

Hopeless i sent you a PM

I did not have to go to a hearing, as something in my medical records must have nailed it early in the process. However, I am guessing if I had, my need for very frequent bathroom breaks may have influenced a judge to see that it would be difficult for me to do the tasks that I had been doing, even though the job was a desk job, because of the frequency and unpredictability of the interruptions. So, I am guessing if there is anything about your disability that is as invisible as continence issues but as obvious as needing to address those issues, let 'em see it!

Thanks so much. I really LOVED your little video. I come back to your post just to watch it over and over. It is too cute.