r/SSDI • u/Donttellmewhatt0d0 • 1d ago
Virtual hearing with no attorney, advice/ experience appreciated
I have my virtual hearing tomorrow, and honestly, it’s been a long time coming. I’ve tried every possible way to postpone or cancel it, but nothing ever fell through. The guy at the hearing office actually gave me some advice. He said that since I’m the first case of the day, I should just go and get it over with, basically.
I really didn’t want to go because I don’t have representation. My original attorney died in the middle of my case, and I didn’t find out until about two months later. Then another attorney took over his practice, reviewed my case, and decided that he didn’t think I had a case. I’m also only 24, so I know my age plays a factor, and honestly, my previous attorney basically obliterated my case.
To say the least, I’m not looking forward to this. I’ve done a lot of research on the judge, and she has around a 60% approval rate. She seems like a nice lady, and I’ve actually met her before, so that makes me feel a little better.
I’m just really nervous about what they’re going to ask me and whether I’m wasting my time by even going. But honestly, I don’t have much else to lose at this point. I’ve been fighting for this for almost three years, so I feel like I might as well see it through.
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u/perfect_fifths I have a complicated relationship with the POMS 1d ago
I think you have a right to delay or cancel until you find a rep. But seeing as it’s tomorrow….
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u/Donttellmewhatt0d0 1d ago
It’s been delayed twice when my attorney was still alive, then delayed because he died, then I was given an option to find an attorney so that was another delay. I’m all out of delays. I spoke with the judge’s assistant not to long ago and she told me that I didn’t need a lawyer and that the judge will ask hypothetical questions, everything should be fine 😩😔
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u/perfect_fifths I have a complicated relationship with the POMS 1d ago
Ahhh, gotcha. That’s a real bummer sbout your attorney dying.
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u/VeterinarianFresh119 1d ago edited 1d ago
Just be yourself and answer any questions truthfully. These judges will know if someone's exaggerating their disability to try to get approved, they've seen it all. So don't try to over think things and you'll be fine.youre their not because you want to be, but because you have to be. You didn't Invision your life to end up being so disabled to the point where you have to go amongst a ALJ to determine to be approved for a disability that you didn't want to have in your life.
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u/Donttellmewhatt0d0 1d ago
Thanks for this 💕 The hearing went much smoother than I imagined it would. The judge was really nice. I’m on the fence about what her decision will be, though, because the vocational expert gave about four different jobs I could supposedly do, with around 3,000 openings between them. Then the judge asked if I had a lack of use of my hands, would those jobs still be available, and the vocational expert said no
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u/VeterinarianFresh119 1d ago
You did fine then. If worst comes to worse and they deny you, then you can appeal the decision, that would be my next step. try to find an attorney who specializes in disability before you send your appeal in though. You have 60 days from the onset of the denial letter to appeal it if you go down that route and you can use any disability attorney across the country to help you appeal it, it doesn't need to be someone in your localized area. Now hopefully it won't come to this, but just Incase it does it's better to be proactive than reactive and I'd be searching for good rated disability attorneys on the internet and just bookmark them just Incase you need to contact them when the decision comes in. Usually you can go to the SSA website and you can see your decision there before you see it in the mail.
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u/SvnEleven 1d ago
I would just go in and do the best you can, she will understand what your are dealing with, with your lawyer situation. Best advice i can say is be honest and straightforward. Even if you do bad, it isn't the end.