WHAT HAPPENS DURING A HEARING

A Social Security disability hearing lasts about 45 minutes, typically.  It usually has the following components or parts:

1. Questioning by the administrative law judge (ALJ)
2. Questioning by the claimant's representative
3. Testimony by a vocational expert (called by Social Security)
4. Closing arguments or remarks by the claimant's representative.

There are, of course, many other things that will occur during the course of the hearing.  The ALJ will verify the claimant's past work record, past and current earnings, alleged onset date, date last insured* (current Social Security insured status), address any technical questions or problems with the case, etc.

I used a lot of terms in the above paragraph.  I will briefly explain some of them below, so you know what I'm talking about.

* The "alleged onset date" or AOD, is the date you claim your disability began.  This date may determine how much back pay you can receive.

*The Date Last Insured, or DLI, is that date upon which your insured status for Social Security disability will end (or has already ended).  Usually, this is 5 years after your last significant work.