It is worth it to have your disability case heard by a Judge?   There are, no doubt, many thousands of stories out there about disability judges who were terse, rude, judgmental (no pun intended) and who simply made bad decisions on claims brought before them. However, the fact remains: every claimant who goes before an ALJ has been denied on an initial Social Security Disability or SSI claim and on a first appeal. And roughly half of all claims that are taken to disability hearings...are won by claimants and their representatives. Because of this, I think it is reasonable to say that the ALJ (administrative law judge) serves as an equalizer, of sorts When I was a disability examiner, we used to speak about the great differences in approval rates; that is, cases approved at DDS and cases approved at hearings offices. Unfortunately, most examiners were of the mind that ALJs approved far too many claims (which reconsideration-level disability examiners had denied). However, the examiners who thought this way suffered from tunnel vision. They were unable to view the system in ways other than those related to their job function. The truth is, how you look at a disability claim and how you look at the person filing the claim probably depends a great deal on whether you actually meet the person. Disability examiners do not meet the individuals whose claims they are deciding. Disability judges do. To an examiner, a claimant is a file, a job, a performance statistic for one's annual evaluation. And to some extent, this may be true of judges. But judges meet the individuals whose fate they decide. And because of this, for at least a few minutes, the file has a face. Remember, disability evaluation is not an objective process. It is subjective and statements to the contrary are wishful thinking at best, and lies at worst---if it was objective, judges would not be overturning so many prior denials. About the Author: Tim Moore is a former Social Security Disability Examiner in North Carolina, has been interviewed by the NY Times and the LA Times on the disability system, and is an Accredited Disability Representative (ADR) in North Carolina. For assistance on a disability application or Appeal in NC, click here. Most popular topics on SSDRC.com Social Security Disability in North Carolina Common Mistakes to avoid after being denied for Disability Tips to Prepare for Filing for Social Security Disability or SSI Advice to Win SSD and SSI Benefit Claims Social Security Disability SSI Questions What is the difference between Social Security Disability and SSI? How to get disability for depression Getting disability for fibromyalgia SSI disability for children with ADHD What is the Application Process for Social Security Disability and SSI? Social Security Disability SSI Exam tips More Social Security Disability SSI Questions What makes you eligible for Social Security Disability or SSI? Related pages: Will a Social Security Judge give You an Immediate Decision at the Disability Hearing? How Long Does It Take To Go Before A Judge For Disability Benefits? Scheduled for a disability hearing before an administrative law judge What Percentage Of Social Security Disability or SSI Cases Does A Judge Deny? How long does a disability judge have to make a decision?