Convincing a Judge You Are Disabled in Houston
If you have been turned down for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits after your initial application and request for consideration, all hope is not lost. In fact, most applicants are turned down at these stages. The next step is a disability hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ).
The law firm of Coats & Todd has extensive experience representing SSD applicants in ALJ hearings in Houston and throughout Texas. This is your chance to tell your story in person to a judge, and we can help you make the most of it.
Contact us online or by telephone at 800-856-1031 to speak with an experienced Houston disability hearings lawyer.
Texas Social Security Hearing Attorneys
After your request for consideration is denied, we can file the request for hearing paperwork to schedule a hearing with an administrative law judge. You will be randomly assigned to a judge whose docket load will dictate when your case is heard. We know how to deal with administrative law judges and their scheduling requirements. We use our experience in this area to get our clients' cases heard as soon as possible.
In the meantime, it is very important that you continue to get medical treatment for your condition and follow the orders of your doctor. Whether you are being treated at the Houston Medical Center, the Ben Taub General Hospital, LBJ Hospital or another Houston area hospital, our SSD lawyers can instruct you on how to work with your doctor to increase your chances of a successful appeal.
We will keep the Social Security Administration up to date on your medical condition. In some cases, this documentation results in an early "on the record" decision from the ALJ, qualifying you for benefits without the need for a hearing.
Houston ALJ Hearings
If your case goes forward, we will contact you about 20 days before your disability hearing. We will do everything we can to prepare you for the experience. We will counsel you about likely questions you will be asked and how to present your case to the ALJ and, of course, we will be there by your side at the hearing.
The hearing should last about an hour. We will present your case to the judge, including medical records and testimony from medical experts and family members. The judge will likely ask you a series of questions about your medical history, your condition and how it is affecting your ability to work.
What's Next?
In most cases, claimants receive a written decision from the ALJ about 90 days after the hearing. If your claim is affirmed, it may take another two to four months before you begin receiving SSD benefits.
If your claim is again denied, it is not the end of the road. We can continue representing you through the appeals process, all the way to the federal district court if necessary.
Contact Us
Based in Richardson, Texas, we represent people with physical and mental impairments in Houston, the Dallas-Fort Worth area, throughout Texas and nationwide. Contact us today online or call us at 800-856-1031 for a free initial consultation, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT, Monday through Friday.
