The Social Security Administration gives Social Security disability claimants who have had their claim denied an opportunity to appear at a hearing in which they can present their side of the case and establish a case for benefits.
This hearing is your chance to demonstrate that you are eligible for SSDI benefits and that you do not agree with the decision made in your case. You are required to bring your medical records and any evidence that you want to present in support of your claim. You’re also allowed to bring witnesses, but many disability applicants do not do so.
Should I Bring Witnesses to My Social Security Disability Appeal Hearing?
The fact is that the decision in your case is going to be made on the basis of the medical documentation that you provide in support of your claim. That documentation will include not only the medical records that you provide but also the doctor’s opinion about the limitations imposed on you by your impairment.
In some cases, however, a witness can actually provide extra evidence about your impairment that can prove helpful in substantiating your claim. This typically happens in those cases that involve mental disabilities or in those cases in which the applicant is below the age of 18.
People who suffer from bipolar disorder or epilepsy may also find that bringing a witness who can testify about the loss of consciousness, or epileptic seizures can help their case.
How Do I Choose My Witnesses?
If you’re going to bring witnesses to your Social Security appeal hearing, it’s important to choose reliable witnesses who can be counted on to give truthful, relevant information about your disability. If they over-exaggerate or lie about your limitations, then they will do more harm than good for your case.
Potential witnesses to consider are the people closest to you who have firsthand knowledge of our disability and how it affects your life, such as spouses, parents, friends, caregivers or former employers.
For assistance filing your disability benefits claims denial, speak to Houston Social Security disability benefits lawyer M. Stanley Whitehead at 713-993-7311.
