Category Archives: 3 Hearings

Social Security hearings before the Administrative Law Judge

Is a long wait after the Social Security hearing a bad sign?

Posted on March 31, 2010 by Tomasz Stasiuk

While many Social Security disability hearings in Colorado have decisions issued in 45 to 90 days, some cases wait for four, five, even six months without a decision. I was recently asked if a long wait after a hearing is … Continue reading →

Posted in 3 Hearings | Tagged , | View Comments

Reviewing your Social Security exhibit file – Part 1: Medical Records

Posted on August 31, 2009 by Tomasz Stasiuk

How do you begin to review your Social Security exhibit file? Here is a quick guide to finding the really important parts. Start with the “F” section to review the medical records. If you do not review anything else in … Continue reading →

Posted in 3 Hearings, Building a Case | View Comments

What is in a Social Security file?

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Tomasz Stasiuk

Just before your Social Security hearing, you will be given a cd and pointed at a computer. If you ask, someone may help you load up the disk and get you to a screen that looks like this: Ok, now … Continue reading →

Posted in 3 Hearings, Building a Case | View Comments

Questions the Judge may ask in epilepsy or seizure case

Posted on June 1, 2009 by Tomasz Stasiuk

Disability cases based on seizure disorders are a very special kind of disability case. If your case goes in front of an Administrative Law Judge, you can expect to be asked these questions: How often do you have seizures? What … Continue reading →

Posted in 3 Hearings, Epilepsy, Seizure Disorders | Tagged , , | View Comments

Don’t go to your Social Security disability hearing with out-of-date medical records!

Posted on May 1, 2009 by Tomasz Stasiuk

It surprises my clients to learn that, most of the time, Social Security does not update medical records after the initial denial. With wait times of a year or more, this can mean that by the time your case gets … Continue reading →

Posted in 3 Hearings, Building a Case | Tagged , , | View Comments

How to postpone a Social Security hearing?

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Tomasz Stasiuk

Even though it often takes a year or even two years to get your Social Security hearing, you may find that you are not ready when the big day finally comes. Is there any way to continue, postpone, or delay … Continue reading →

Posted in 3 Hearings | Tagged , , , , | View Comments

How long after my case is assigned to a Judge does it take to get a hearing?

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Tomasz Stasiuk

If you are keeping in touch with the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) which is preparing your case for hearing, you may be told that your case has finally been assigned to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).   … Continue reading →

Posted in 3 Hearings | Tagged , , , | View Comments

Does your story hold up, or is it full of holes?

Posted on February 19, 2009 by Tomasz Stasiuk

Part of what any good attorney does is listen carefully. I am always on the look out for inconsistencies. Some problems are obvious, others may seem minor. But, they always run the risk of derailing a case. The individual with epilepsy, … Continue reading →

Posted in 3 Hearings, Building a Case | View Comments

Making your Social Security claim stand out!

Posted on February 17, 2009 by Tomasz Stasiuk

Gordon Gates writes about how he tries to make each case different and memorable when preparing to go to hearing. I am always concerned that a particular claim will not get the attention it deserves at the hearing level, due … Continue reading →

Posted in 3 Hearings, Building a Case | Tagged , , | View Comments

Things to watch out for if your case is moved to a new hearing office

Posted on February 10, 2009 by Tomasz Stasiuk

I previously wrote about how Social Security may move a case from one hearing office (Office of Disability Adjudication and Review – ODAR) to another to try to ease case congestion and speed up processing. Usually, there is nothing to worry … Continue reading →

Posted in 3 Hearings, Building a Case | Tagged , , , | View Comments

Gordon Gates on “the 11 Percent ALJ”

Posted on January 7, 2009 by Tomasz Stasiuk

Social Security attorney Gordon Gates wrote about a Social Security Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) who only approves 11 percent of cases. In trying to find some insight in to how this ALJ could only approve 11% of cases when most … Continue reading →

Posted in 3 Hearings, Building a Case, SSA News | Tagged , , , , | View Comments

Long Social Security hearing delays? “Blame the judges!”

Posted on January 2, 2009 by Tomasz Stasiuk

The long wait times in Social Security cases are prompting a backlash against Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) in Social Security cases.   Across the country, it takes an average of 480 days to get a judge’s ruling on a Social … Continue reading →

Posted in 3 Hearings, SSA News | Tagged , , , | View Comments

Social Security Judge’s approval or denial numbers published by Oregonian

Posted on December 31, 2008 by Tomasz Stasiuk

Would you like to know what percentage of cases the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) assigned to your Social Security disability, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) case, approves and denies? In response to a Freedom of Information Act request by The Oregonian, the … Continue reading →

Posted in 3 Hearings, SSA News, Useful Sites | Tagged , | View Comments

If you were in jail or prison and are applying for Social Security disability benefits, get your entry & release dates!

Posted on December 22, 2008 by Tomasz Stasiuk

We have previously discussed that an individual is not eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits while incarcerated.  This issue frequently comes up when an individual already on Social Security is incarcerated. However, it is important to remember that the prohibition … Continue reading →

Posted in 3 Hearings | Tagged , | View Comments

My case was moved to another Social Security hearing office! What’s going on?

Posted on November 20, 2008 by Tomasz Stasiuk

When you are waiting for your Social Security hearing, it can come as a shock to receive a letter telling you that your case has been transferred to a different hearing office in another state.   Attorney Donald Chewning writes about … Continue reading →

Posted in 3 Hearings, Building a Case | Tagged , | View Comments