How Do I Testify At My Social Security Disability Hearing?

In short; truthfully!  This is probably your last chance to convince a office of disability and review (ODAR) judge that you are able to perform sustained gainful employment.  This is not the time to be too proud or boastful due to embarrassment.  I have watched disabled clients who are simply too proud to admit how tragically difficult their lives have become, how little they can help out at home or how close they are to becoming homeless due to their inability to work.  Your hearing is NOT the time to impress others (ODAR judges) about how great your wish your life was or is.

Tell the truth!  If you eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches because cooking is too painful tell the judge and your doctors.  If you wear the same clothes for weeks on end because it's too painful to walk up or down the stairs to wash laundry, tell the judge and your doctor.  If you lay in bed with the lights off wishing that you were dead, tell the judge and your doctor.  Your life is not being judged, your success or failures are not being judged, YOU are not being judged.  Only the nature and extent of your disabilities will be judged.  Tell the truth, the whole truth and please know that thousands of others are in the same shoes as you.

At Atkinson Law Office and Minnesota Disability we will help you with your social security disability claim as much as possible.  We can help you from the initial application all the way through your hearing.  Unlike the vast majority of law firms and agencies, you will also work with licensed and experienced social security disability attorneys rather than clerks, secretaries and receptionists.  Please call us today to discuss your possible social security disability claim.  Please call today for a free consultation; 651-333-3636.  We represent client across the entire Midwest including, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Iowa.  At Minnesota Disability we are prepared to served injured and disabled workers.

How Long Must I Wait For My Social Security Disability Decision?

In 95% of all social security disability claims, benefits can be awarded in one of three phases of the application process; Initial Application, Reconsideration or ODAR (Office of Decision And Review) Hearing. 


If you received a favorable decision on your initial application or reconsideration, congratulations, your benefits will start as soon as the paperwork is processed.   You back benefits will likely be paid in a lump sum and your benefits will probably start within 30-90 days, assuming that you have completed the 5 month elimination period.

If your claim went through a hearing with an ALJ, you may have to wait longer.  Many ALJ’s in the Minneapolis and out state Social Security hearing offices take about 1-3 months to issue their written decisions.  When the decision is favorable, the claim file is then sent to the payment processing center, where it can take another 1-3 months for current benefits to start.
In some situations, Social Security issues current monthly benefits, but not the back payments.  This is because they need to investigate if you received any Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

Social Security does not have any specific rules on when they will pay you after being approved, but if you have not received your benefits 60 days after your hearing, give your attorney or the local ODAR office a telephone call.

If you are currently in the process of applying for Social Security Disability, please contact Minnesota Disability and Atkinson Law Office today for a FREE no obligation appointment.  There is NEVER a fee paid directly by you for representation.  Any fees will be paid from a small portion of the PAST benefits recovered.  Call today 651-333-3636