Currently, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has a long wait time for hearings before Administrative Law Judges (ALJ); keeping in touch with your lawyer can be very important to winning your claim.
As your hearing approaches, communication with your representative can be even more important to gather your updated medical records. Keeping in contact with your lawyer may allow for any and all medical records to be obtained and ensures that an ALJ will be able to make a decision based on the most up to date information.
Some common problems I have seen with my clients include their inability to have a working phone number or a consistent mailing address. It is easy to understand that financial hardships due to the inability to work can make it extremely difficult to afford these things.
It can be very helpful to your Social Security Disability lawyer if you call, email, or notify him/her by standard mail, of any changes to your contact information.
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Sometimes, a relative or friend can serve as a consistent point of contact for my office if you grant us permission to speak to them.
So many things can change while waiting for a Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) hearing.
For example, your condition may have gotten worse, your medical providers may have changed, you may have undergone additional medical procedures, you may have had changes in medication, you may have undergone new objective testing, or you may even have improved and gone back at work. All these things can potentially have an impact on your case.
Additionally, going to a Social Security disability hearing “cold”, without talking to your Social Security disability attorney, can result in some surprises. I attempt to prepare my clients before each hearing with a preparation session to help them better understand what kind of questions the ALJ will be asking. These answers to the ALJ can have an impact on winning your claim.
Being unaware of the procedures used and the questions you will be asked can cause you to walk into the courtroom unprepared for what will happen at your hearing.
I understand the difficult times that my clients are going through.
While it can take months and years to get to your hearing, my office encourages our clients to call in on a periodic basis or when there are changes in their circumstances.
My office does this so that contact information and notes can be made so that when your hearing is finally on the calendar, it becomes easier to prepare you and your case.
