The severity of the Polycythemia Vera does not mean the Social Security Administration (SSA) will automatically approve your application for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. If your SSDI application comes back denied, you should immediately request an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing to file an appeal.
Understanding What Goes on at an ALJ Hearing
The first step in the ALJ hearing process is perhaps the most difficult step of all. It involves visiting the nearest Office of Disability Adjudication Review (ODAR) to schedule an appointment and to learn more about what transpires at an ALJ hearing.
In most cases, ODARs have long lists of applicants that had their original claim denied and are waiting to schedule an ALJ hearing to file an appeal. This means you should stop by the closest ODAR as soon as possible after learning the SSA denied your SSDI benefits application.
As the claimant, expect the judge overseeing your case to ask a series of questions. The judge wants clarification on the evidence submitted that did not meet the standards established by the SSA. Some of the questions you will answer concern past employment, educational background, and prevailing medical issues that prevent you from working.
The judge’s primary job is to receive more information from you that allows him or her to make a sound decision. Every question that you answer must be truthful, as well as include all the information you know about your Polycythemia Vera symptoms. The judge has 30 days to issue a decision on your appeal, which means you probably will not get an answer on the day of the ALJ hearing.
Tips to Win an Appeal
Preparation is everything when it comes to an ALJ hearing. You need to organize all the paperwork associated with both previous and current medical treatments. The judge needs to see documents that demonstrate how much money you have lost because of your Polycythemia Vera symptoms.
Notarized documents signed by medical experts should bolster your case, but you can do better than that by asking the experts to testify at the hearing. One of the keys to winning your appeal is to prove a direct link between the symptoms that you suffer from and the inability to complete job functions.
The judge wants to hear well-thought-out answers to every question. Rehearsing the answers to anticipated questions should be an integral part of your strategy to win the appeal.
Work with an Experienced Disability Lawyer
By hiring an experienced Social Security lawyer, you get an advocate in your corner who argues your case in front of the administrative law judge. Your attorney can also help you organize all the documents required to present the most persuasive case.
Submitting an SSDI application can be confusing and difficult. If your application was full of holes, working with a state-licensed disability lawyer the second time around should boost your chances of winning the appeal.
Social Security disability attorneys work hard to win appeals for their clients because they operate on a contingency fee basis. They get paid when their clients win an appeal.
Schedule a free case evaluation today with an accomplished Social Security disability lawyer.
