At your disability hearing, it is almost a sure bet that that the judge will ask you about your daily activities and how you usually spend your day. How you answer these questions will have a significant bearing on the outcome of your disability case.
The judge’s purpose in asking these questions is to determine if your activities are consistent with the disability, symptoms and limitations you are claiming. Simply put: Do your actions match your words? But these questions are also prime opportunities to help your case with truthful, detailed explanations.
Let me give you an example. Let’s say the judge asks “What do you do on a typical day?” and you answer: “Not much.” That may be a truthful answer but not a very detailed one. If your pain limits you to sitting in chair and watching television all day, that is a better and more descriptive answer. And if you can only get up out of a recliner for meals and even that is painful, tell the judge.
Paint a picture of your life hour by hour, day by day. Describe what you used to do but cannot do now because of your disability. Give details about the activities you once were able to do by yourself but now cannot do without assistance from others. These details will help the judge reach a more accurate assessment of how your disability prevents you from pursuing significant gainful employment.
Getting you prepared for your all-important hearing is just one part of what we do at Cuddigan Law when we represent you. At Cuddigan Law you have a dedicated team of professionals in your corner who understand the system and who will fight for your rights. Call us for a free evaluation of your situation.
