What The Expert Knows (And Doesn't Know) At Your SSDI Appeal Hearing
Those turned down for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) may appeal the ruling at a hearing. Once you receive word in the mail that your Social Security benefits have been denied, schedule your appeal hearing before the deadline runs out. At this meeting, you will be facing a hearing officer that has the power to rule on your case. However, the hearing officer will be depending upon the opinion of another person during the appeal – the vocational expert. Find out more about this person and how to avoid being overruled by reading below.
Understanding Your Hearing
As you might imagine, hearings are both stressful and important. In many cases, this is your only opportunity to get your benefits approved. This meeting should center around the reasons that your benefits were denied in the first place. However, interpreting the reasons can be very complex for most to deal with. You might still not understand why your benefits were denied after reading the letter because they are often filled with unfamiliar terms and reasons.
It's vital, however, that you don't appear at the hearing without knowing how to argue for your benefits. You may know you deserve them not understand how to make that understood.
Many claimants don't go to a hearing alone. They bring along an expert in Social Security law. Social Security lawyers understand the laws. They know why your benefits were denied and they know what is needed to convince the hearing officer that you deserve them.
What is a Vocational Expert (VE) and Why They Matter
Vocational experts are employed by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to help hearing officers provide information about the job market, physical tasks required of jobs, and more. However, they don't know everything. For instance, they are not trained in the way that medical disorders can affect a claimant's ability to work. That is another good reason to have a Social Security lawyer with you at the hearing.
For example, the VE might assure the hearing officer that there are other jobs you can do even if you cannot do your current job. Your lawyer has the power to cross-examine the VE and find out more about the jobs, the pay, the skills and abilities required, and more. Your lawyer can point out that you are unable to perform at any job and therefore deserve benefits.
Don't try to cope with an appeal hearing and a VE on your own. Speak to a Social Security disability lawyer to find out more.