TOUGHEST QUESTIONS AT A DISABILITY HEARING

Social Security hearings are held so a judge can look at the claim and decide whether disability benefits can be paid under the law.

A lot of the questions are routine:  your age, past work, when you stopped working, your highest level of education?

Some of the questions are....well....tough. Such as:

"If you had a job where you could rotate from standing to sitting as often as you want, had to lift nothing heavier than 10 pounds, and only had to make simple decisions--why couldn't you do that job?"

(This describes a sedentary unskilled job, which is usually what determines the decision for claimants under age 50).

Example of this type job would be:  ticket taker, hand packager, or parking garage attendant.

Factors that may keep you from being able to perform these type of jobs would include:

• severe, chronic pain
• inability to concentrate or remain on task
• inability to get along with supervisors or the public
• need to lie down a few times each day
• inability to use the hands for repetitive motions
• the need for a break more often than every 2 hrs.
• being absent more than 1 day a month due to illness.

Your attorney or representative will sit down with you prior to the hearing and help you truthfully answer the "tough" questions you may get during your hearing.