Tucson Social Security Disability Blog

Will I Have To Go To More Than One Hearing?

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For most claimants, all the issues in their cases can be addressed with one trip to see a judge.  This is especially true if the claimant has gotten all of her medical records into the file before the hearing. But there are circumstances where a claimant might have to go back to see a judge multiple times.

An Important Change In The Case May Require Another Hearing

You Again? This Better Be Important

One common reason for going for a supplemental hearing is that something fundamental has changed in the case.  This could be a new diagnosis or treatment, for example.  If the new information substantially shifts the nature of the case, a judge may conclude she needs to hear more testimony. Judges can also schedule additional hearings when they want additional expert testimony. This most commonly occurs when the judge asks a doctor to testify.

Claimants Can Request Additional Hearings

The claimant can also request a supplemental hearing. This can occur, for example, when a judge sends a claimant out for a medical examination after the first hearing. The judge must give a copy of the doctor’s report to the claimant. If the claimant feels she would benefit from another hearing to discuss the new medical information, she may request one. The judge is obligated to schedule another hearing unless she is going to approve the case. It is critical, therefore, to request an additional hearing if there is any doubt at all about what the doctor’s testimony means.

A Supplemental Hearing Could Be Shorter and More Focused

Judges conduct supplemental hearings the same way they do other hearings.  The supplemental hearings tend to be shorter and more focused on just one issue in the case. For this reason, supplemental hearing can take less time than first hearings.

When or if to ask for a supplemental hearing is something you should discuss with your lawyer.  If you have had a supplemental hearing, let me know how it went.  As always, I welcome your questions or comments about this or any other topic.

Move Along, Move Along

Hearing scheduled? Call Today.

If Social Security has scheduled your disability case to be heard by one of their judges, call me immediately. Unlike many large law firms, I can move quickly to get your case ready to be won.

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About The Author

Since 1992, I have been helping the people of Southern Arizona get the benefits they are due. Before devoting all my efforts to assisting people with Social Security disability claims, I also handled such complex lawsuits as medical malpractice and products liability. I brought to my Social Security cases all the skills and attention to detail that I developed in the courtroom. I approach each Social Security disability case as if it were a million-dollar lawsuit. For the people trying to get Social Security benefits, their claim is every bit as important. Because I have personally handled so many Social Security cases, I have refined the skills I need to win your case for you. I have helped people win cases for every kind of ailment from arthritis to valley fever. At present, I am focused on helping those persons with neurological and orthopedic disorders. Because claims for people over age fifty bring additional complications, I particularly seek out those cases to work on. I regularly write about back and spine conditions on my blog. I actively seek out the latest information about orthopedic and neurological disorders to ensure I can represent my clients as effectively as possible. Because of my current focus, I regret that I am not able to take any cases for mental disorders. If you are over age fifty and suffer from any orthopedic or neurological disorder, please contact me at once.