How much should my lawyer say at my Disability Hearing?   "I went to my hearing and my lawyer sat there like a bump on a log". Actually, I haven't heard that one specifically, but I have heard, quite a number of times something similar to "My lawyer hardly said anything". And sometimes that statement is followed up with...why should I even pay him? Ok, when you go to a disability hearing with a disability lawyer, you're not paying someone to orate and wax eloquently about your case. You're actually paying someone to do the legwork and heavy lifting on your case, i.e. preparing for your disability hearing. That means reviewing your file, obtaining medical record updates, getting a grasp of your current residual functional capacity, hopefully getting a solid, detailed and objective medical source statement (this can be done on an RFC form) from a treating physician, making sure that the hearing office gets copies of everything obtained, reviewing your work history, and being able to present a rationale as to why you are no longer able to perform your past work and cannot perform other work. And, in addition to pre-hearing preparation, an attorney is also there to speak for you in the event that the administrative law judge has chosen to have an expert present (possibly a medical expert and/or a vocational expert). Of course, it goes without saying that very, very, very, very few unrepresented claimants would have any idea of how to respond to a hypotethical scenario brought into the discussion, whereas an attorney could do this and entertain their own hypotheticals. However, back to the original point of this post: when claimants make the statement that their attorney didn't say anything at their hearing and they are forced to wonder what has been done on their behalf, I have to conclude, in most cases, this is because they don't understand what hearing preparation is, and what the nature of the disability hearing really is (which is purely understandable, and logical). There are cases, of course, in which by the time the claimant and the lawyer arrive at the hearing, the judge has already, for the most part, based on the record, decided to pay the case. But this is often a result of information gathered by the attorney and submitted to the judge. And there are other situations in which the ALJ (administrative law judge) may decide to award an on-the-record decision (meaning no hearing and a fully favorable decision, possibly due to an amended onset previously agreed to). And if that's the case, it may be due to the fact that the case should clearly never have been denied by the state agency in the first place, or it may be due to the fact that the attorney sent a request to the hearing office for on-the-record review along with compelling medical evidence. Btw, for those who don't know, attorneys are paid 1/4 of a claimant's backpay, currently up to a maximum of $6000.00, meaning that if your case is not won, there is no fee, though you may still have to pay out-of-pocket expenses such as the cost of obtaining medical records. 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: Social Security Attorneys and Disability Representatives Disability lawyers - basic questions for Social Security help Social Security Disability benefits for stroke How to file for disability in Texas TX How do you find out how your disability claim is going? Filing and qualifying for disability with melanoma Can I apply for benefits with bipolar? Social Security Disability Requirements For Personal Assets Applying for disability with panic attacks Does Social Security Disability Come With Medicaid Benefits? Winning a disability case for a child Appealing a disability denial by a judge Different types of Social Security Disability denials Applying for Disability or SSI - How long does it take How to file for disability in Ohio