Hearing Before an Administrative Law Judge
Once you file a Request for Hearing by an Administrative Law Judge, your file will be sent to the nearest Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR). Unfortunately, it can take up to one year to get a hearing date. However, once a hearing is set, you and your representative will appear before an Administrative Law Judge and present information and medical support showing that you are disabled. In some cases, there will be medical or vocational experts that appear telephonically at the hearing. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) will ask the expert some questions pertaining to their review of your file, including your medical records. Once the hearing is complete, the ALJ will make a decision on whether or not you are found disabled. Occasionally, the ALJ will make their decision at the time of the hearing.