Houston Social Security Disability Attorney – Pre-Hearing Evaluations
Going through the social security disability (SSD) process in Texas is widely known as a complex, frustrating, and stressful affair. Despite the wide number of benefits awarded to thousands of Houston residents, due to the large backlog at the Social Security Administration, it can take months, even years, to receive benefits from the initial application to the various appeals you may be required to submit. Furthermore, as a single disability claim can include hundreds (or even thousands) of pages of evidence, as well as vast quantities of medical records, it’s no surprise why the SSA takes so long to get you the benefits you rightfully deserve.
Fortunately, when preparing for the hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), there are a few ways to prepare for a pre-hearing evaluation through a written brief. Fortunately, when applying for SSD benefits, or appealing a claims denial, you can find the necessary legal aid and guidance through Houston SSD benefits attorney William Herren. At Herren Law in Houston, we’ve helped numerous individuals receive the disability benefits they rightfully deserve and, often, desperately need, and we boast the resources and legal know-how to help you navigate this complicated process. To get started on your case, you can call our Houston law office today at (713) 682-8194 for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Writing Your Pre-Hearing Brief
Submitting a written “brief” prior to your disability hearing gives you the opportunity to highlight some of the most important details and evidence regarding your disability and your right to receive SSD benefits. The goal of this brief is to reassure the ALJ that you have a strong claim and that your claim is supported by medical evidence and consistent with SSA guidelines.
In general, you want to write your pre-hearing brief, addressing it to the judge assigned to your case, and send it to a local Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR). You should send the brief at least a week before your hearing. Some elements of this brief can (and should) include:
- Identifying information — Name, Social Security number, date of birth, hearing date, date of application, date your disability claim began, and even your “date last insured” for SSDI benefits.
- Introduction — Briefly outline your medical issues, work history, and any compelling evidence
- Summary of medical evidence — Highlight the most significant evidence for the ALJ
- Discussion of sequential evaluation — Provide a well-supported discussion of each of the five steps in the SSA’s sequential evaluation
- Conclusion — Recount the main points and supporting evidence
A concise, well-written pre-hearing brief is generally about two to three pages long, which should be enough space to go through some of the elements listed above. Keep in mind that every SSD benefits case is different, and you may need to include extra information to compensate for the unique details of your case.
Call Herren Law for the Leading Houston SSD Lawyer
A pre-hearing evaluation is a powerful method to present a concise version of your case to the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) before your official disability hearing. In a best case scenario, the brief will influence and ease the judge’s decision during the disability hearing, and you may have a better chance at receiving SSD benefits in a timely manner. However, you need to be sure to write the pre-hearing brief completely, including every piece of relevant information to optimize and strengthen your case. For legal guidance and representation throughout the duration of your disability claims process, including the pre-hearing evaluation, contact Houston SSD attorney William Herren today by dialing (713) 682-8194. Free consultations are available.
