North Carolina Disability Hearings

Administrative Law Judges Preside Over Hearings

If your claim for Social Security Disability benefits is denied, as is the case with approximately two out of every three claims every year, you have a right to request reconsideration of the claim. This first stage of appeal, however, is rarely successful. In fact, the Social Security Administration (SSA) reports that only 14 percent of claims that proceed to reconsideration are approved at this stage. The next level of appeal is to request a hearing with an administrative law judge (ALJ). Because the decision to approve or deny a claim at the hearing is at the discretion of the ALJ, it is impossible to predict with any degree of accuracy whether or not your claim will succeed if it goes to a hearing.

Each judge reviews a claim from his or her own perspective. The team at Golson, McCracken Inc. has the advantage of experience with the judges in the North Carolina hearing offices, and can present your case keeping your particular judge’s temperament and preferences in mind.

Requesting a Hearing

What Happens at the Disability Hearing

A Social Security Disability hearing is similar to a courtroom trial, though it is far less formal. Furthermore, there is no prosecutor or jury, since the administrative law judge serves as the sole trier of fact. A representative from Golson, McCracken Inc. will research the medical and vocational aspects of your claim prior to your hearing. They can speak on your behalf and present an argument for why your claim should be approved, but it is also important for you to tell your story. Prior to the disability hearing, your claim has consisted primarily of filling out paperwork, but now is your opportunity to look a representative from the SSA in the eye and tell your personal story of suffering and hardship. The hearing is your chance to explain what has happened to you, why it is that you cannot work, and why you deserve to receive disability benefits.

It is also possible to bring witnesses, such as your physician, along to the hearing to assist you in making your case. We will prepare you prior to the day of the hearing, so that you will be able to present your case in a manner that gives the judge the accurate and full picture of the impact that your medical conditions have on your ability to function. The ALJ usually does not issue a ruling at the hearing, and you will instead receive a letter in the mail sometime afterward notifying you of whether or not your claim has been approved. To learn more about the process and get started on your own claim, contact us now by filling out our client intake form.