ALJ hearing

[Dolfinz]

Hi everyone, it is so nice to finally have the site back up !

I just had my ALJ hearing here in Mass. and I am really nervous on how it went.
Has anyone else had a hearing and how did it turn out ? How long did it take for the judge to make a ruling ??

[shespeaks247]

I wish you good luck on your hearing outcome.

I had my hearing in front of the ALJ on January 6, 2006. I'm STILL waiting for a decision. I have a national representative and they keep telling me "The decision is waiting to be assigned to a writer". Sigh.

Pam

[Dolfinz]

HI..
I read you posting .. that is just not right! I mean I know every state is different, but your situation is just unreal. I wish you and I the best of luck !

[Sammie]

It can take up to a year to recieve a decision. It depends on how back logged they are...

I fought for 4 years, went to a hearing and was given a bench decision of fully favorable. I received my letter the following week. I am still waiting for my benefits to start.

I can say one thing, it has been a lesson is patience...:rolleyes:

[waggytalk]

It can take up to a year to recieve a decision. It depends on how back logged they are...

I fought for 4 years, went to a hearing and was given a bench decision of fully favorable. I received my letter the following week. I am still waiting for my benefits to start.

I can say one thing, it has been a lesson is patience...:rolleyes:

I have been fighting over 5 years now. went to one ADJ hearing but i had a very bad attorney. the guy did not talk about my case he was talking about the case right before mine. whenever i tried to get him on topic he would shush me.

Also when we got the denial (big shock) it was so full of errors it was silly. they had me being 6 years younger and working 40 hours a week. When i brought that up to him he just said yeah he knew that and he did nto wan to appeal it.

so i hired diffrent attorneys to appeal. then the ******* told SS that i wanted it droped (not the new attorney the old one). so they droped the case! grr.

the new attorney tried to get it opened and SSD refused any new information. so they said they were done (btw this was binder&binder)

so i had to re-file. finally at the ADJ stage again (waiting for a court date) with a attorney that is pissed off at what has happened in the past and is shocked i did not win it the first time. he said part of it is i did work a few years (couldnt keep a job more then 7 months due to pain). he said that actually hurt my case.

what ticks me off is i hear people on other places talking about what they get from SSDI and then they talk about how they went and built a deck or had to work under the table etc. grr

[Dolfinz]

Hi..
Again this goes to prove how backed logged and slow ths system is no matter where you live. I wish Good Luck for all of you that are waiting like me.

I would contact my Congressman. I contacted mine because a Judge had made a bench decsion( my attorney was told by an office worker on my case at the time. ) and then the next day they took that back due to new medical issues. That was in May of 06 and I just had my ALJ hearing in Sept. It does pay to make that call to your Congressman or State Senator.

But it so hard to make ends meet while you do wait !

Oh I hate this sometimes and I know that we are all in the boat together and this site helps so much !

[shespeaks247]

Sammie, thanks for the hope! LOL Your post is the first one I've ever seen (I belong to a couple different SSDI/SSI forums too) that said it can take up to a year to get a decision.

Dolfinz, you are in my prayers for a favorable (and fast) decision!

Pam

[cindybear]

When I went to court..My ALJ took over 6 months..then I called my congress and senator ( I thought 6 months was a long time ) Within a week after calling those peeps, I had a denial in my hands, I think it pissed him off..I made him make his decision faster than he wanted...But then The GOV, Stepped in and gave me a fully fav..But that took 2 years of my time..Waiting for there court dates...I beleive I had 2 with the GOV. I never had to be there once...They fully fav, me twice , with the first one the Gov, before 10 days were up , denied me, Then they took it to court ...Then they, Gave me a fully fav..And stated it should never have left the ALJ court denied..Oh well. It's allways hurry and wait...I'm getting benefits now, but not any backpay yet...They just can not get it through there brick heads , That I did not get ANY SSI and so I do not Owe any monies to anyone but my attorneys...This is what is rediculous..It's allin black in white and they have my SS number. They know what monies I received or not received...URGGG,,,Venting....Good luck you guys, Be careful with calling your congress, I know it has helped alot of peeps, But like in my case it could back fire...And more waiting, will happen...HUgs, Cindy

[Dolfinz]

Hey there everyone,
Thanx for all the posts, it's has given me an inside look at what everyone else is going thru like me. I agree that there are certain times you do need to enlist your gov. but, obviously, it can hurt you to. There are advocates that people can talk to before writing letters to your Rep. or Congressmen, at least there is here in Mass. I hope you all stay well and keep up all the smiles..

[allen]

I had my ALJ in Dec. 05, and the denial by march. I was fired by my attorney because she only takes winning cases, plus she didnt say a word in court just let the judge tear me up.

I was denied because the SSI/SSDI Doc said I could doff my shoes and socks, and put them back on by my self. The funny thing is I wore flip flops to the office visit :rolleyes:. I told that to the judge but he must not have believed me.

I have a new attorney now, and my case is at the AC, and im waiting for their decision. This attorney is a fighter, and believes I shouldnt have come this far. Even my doctors are trippin on how long it has been. Im expecting to hear something from the appeals council pretty soon, and Im hoping they just decide in my favor and the fight is over. We are at about 3 years or so now, who knows how much longer it will take.

I will keep everyone in my prayers ;)
Allen

[Sammie]

Sammie, thanks for the hope! LOL Your post is the first one I've ever seen (I belong to a couple different SSDI/SSI forums too) that said it can take up to a year to get a decision.

Dolfinz, you are in my prayers for a favorable (and fast) decision!

Pam

The judge has 60 days to render his decision, but the decision writers may be back logged and this is where the time is taken...

Check this link out....It is the process time line I would think if all things were right in the SSA world with no back logs...

http://www.ssa.gov/disability/disability_process_frameset.html

[Sammie]

I have been fighting over 5 years now. went to one ADJ hearing but i had a very bad attorney. the guy did not talk about my case he was talking about the case right before mine. whenever i tried to get him on topic he would shush me.

Also when we got the denial (big shock) it was so full of errors it was silly. they had me being 6 years younger and working 40 hours a week. When i brought that up to him he just said yeah he knew that and he did nto wan to appeal it.

so i hired diffrent attorneys to appeal. then the ******* told SS that i wanted it droped (not the new attorney the old one). so they droped the case! grr.

the new attorney tried to get it opened and SSD refused any new information. so they said they were done (btw this was binder&binder)

so i had to re-file. finally at the ADJ stage again (waiting for a court date) with a attorney that is pissed off at what has happened in the past and is shocked i did not win it the first time. he said part of it is i did work a few years (couldnt keep a job more then 7 months due to pain). he said that actually hurt my case.

what ticks me off is i hear people on other places talking about what they get from SSDI and then they talk about how they went and built a deck or had to work under the table etc. grr

Wow, you really went through it with your first attorney...I kind of had the same thing happen to me...My attorney from a "commercial ad" argued with the judge by telling the judge it was not necessary to go back to 1999 just stick with the 2002 onset date...:eek: The judge kept my attonery in the hearing room after we were dismissed and he received a bootychewing from the judge...

I wondered that as well...I have read many posts about how people go on vacations, or do these things after they recieve their backpay. But you go back and read their posts before they get a decision and they can't even lift a gallon of milk or sit for more than an hour at a time and the biggest one, my medications make me to sleepy to even clean my house...I don't get it...
I know that because we have a disablilty our lives are not over, but I don't understand if someone could not sit can all of a sudden build a deck...:confused:

[hermit]

hi, hard lift jug milk? hard sit long? if you say no... you cutting your own throat. they looking for any excuse to deny you. life aint fair. and in regards to those people takeing a trip, an working around the house,.. that dont mean they not disabled, who you to judge? .. come to think of it,..sure glad you guys aint a alj judge.
and far as attorny/representitives go's, will.. its nots them worryed about buying groceries or paying the rent is it? some them guys not real concerned if you get back pay, so ask judge for it youyrself if they dont, an if your counsil really ,really bad, id tell judge let record show i got lousey counsel, be better than sitting there with thumb up yer ***. but this all just my opinion, an is in no way advice or recomendation or etc..etc...
sincerly, hermit

[Sammie]

Hi hermit...I didn't mean to offend anyone, I guess it would seem like ill begotten gains if one lies to get their benefits.
I was approved even though I can sit for 6 hours out of an 8 hour day, walk for 3 hours, but cannot lift more than 10 lbs. I didn't lie and was still approved...I guess it is a trust factor and the fact that medical records speak for themselves...
I know that a lot of people fib to get on benefits, but I just didn't want to be one of those people...
I also know it is a struggle for most people to get their benefits, me included it took me 4 years...People left and right were telling me to fib, I said no because it is a life long thing to be on, and I would not have felt right about receiving that monthly check...This is just me and I posted my opinion "too loudly." For that I apologize....

[waggytalk]

Wow, you really went through it with your first attorney...I kind of had the same thing happen to me...My attorney from a "commercial ad" argued with the judge by telling the judge it was not necessary to go back to 1999 just stick with the 2002 onset date...:eek: The judge kept my attonery in the hearing room after we were dismissed and he received a bootychewing from the judge...

I wondered that as well...I have read many posts about how people go on vacations, or do these things after they recieve their backpay. But you go back and read their posts before they get a decision and they can't even lift a gallon of milk or sit for more than an hour at a time and the biggest one, my medications make me to sleepy to even clean my house...I don't get it...
I know that because we have a disablilty our lives are not over, but I don't understand if someone could not sit can all of a sudden build a deck...:confused:

yeah the attorney i had was really bad. my new attorney seems so much better. but time will tell heh.

i Can understand people goin on vacations etc. just because you are disabled does not mean you have to be a hermit.


SS wanted me to go in to see a doctor. the waiting room was full of people waiting to see the doctor. we got to talking. everyone was there for SSDI. the one guy got to saying how he forgot about the apointment. he was out playing basketball with friends and had to rush in. he didnt get to change out of his shorts (this was in the winter). A women laughed. then they start talking about how much money they are getting. this guy was getting $900 a month for SSDI!

yes yes i know not everyone on SSDI has physical problems. it just ticks me off when i have been trying for eyars to get it and someoen who is healthy enough to get a job would rather go on SSDI.

man i would kill for a job. sigh

[hermit]

want some cheese with yer whine? :D

[UNBRE4K4BLE]

how do they determine how much money you get per month, if you win your case?

[fallenangell]

I had a hearing with an ALJ in October of 2005 and in March of 2005 I still had not heard any thing, so I contacted my Congressman. He contacted the judge that week, and the judge made the decision the NEXT DAY!!! You guessed it, it was a denial! I think it just royally p*ssed him off that I got the Congressman involved. And I know by the date of the denial letter that it WAS the next day, so no guessing there...and there goes that 60 day thing!

And he royally screwed up when making the decision...for one, he thought I was a guy...in the denial letter he kept calling me a 'he', even though I wore a dress to the hearing! He also quoted medical records from a doctor I'd NEVER seen, he was talking about testimony from my neuro., when my neuro. refused to even testify (because he was out of town), and he got my diagnosis wrong! Scary to have somebody like that as a judge, and having such a big impact on our lives.

But, we appealed, again, and I got a new judge and I just got a fully favorable decision in the mail last week...it took three and a half years, but it's fianally over. Whew!

So that's how my ALJ hearing went. Good luck, I hope your judge is better than my first one was. It HAS to be, I don't think there could be a worse one.

Angell

[Sammie]

yeah the attorney i had was really bad. my new attorney seems so much better. but time will tell heh.

i Can understand people goin on vacations etc. just because you are disabled does not mean you have to be a hermit.


SS wanted me to go in to see a doctor. the waiting room was full of people waiting to see the doctor. we got to talking. everyone was there for SSDI. the one guy got to saying how he forgot about the apointment. he was out playing basketball with friends and had to rush in. he didnt get to change out of his shorts (this was in the winter). A women laughed. then they start talking about how much money they are getting. this guy was getting $900 a month for SSDI!

yes yes i know not everyone on SSDI has physical problems. it just ticks me off when i have been trying for eyars to get it and someoen who is healthy enough to get a job would rather go on SSDI.

man i would kill for a job. sigh
I hear ya!

[hermit]

CONGRATS, fallenangel, im happy for you !!!

[Dolfinz]

Hi all , sorry for not responding, had to tend to my parents in Florida. Gosh.. sounds like everyone has gone thru some times ! well, again it is good to hear everyone's opinions and stories it makes me know that I am not mental !!! Thank you all for responding !:)

[GinaMarie]

Come December, I will I think have been trying for Disability for 6 yrs. I have been thru 2 court hearings. The last judge took one year exactly for me to get my denial. My hearing was in May and I got my denial the next May. I was even using a walker then during the hearing also. He about jumped down my throat when I told him that I couldnt even clean my house because of pain. My health has even declined MORE since that hearing 2 hrs ago. It is in the appeals again and my attorney is trying to see if they can add the new medical evidence. All my therapists and specialists and doctors CANT believe I am NOT on disability and all have said they will back me up for it. I am a single parent trying to raise 4 boys (of which my two youngest have one of my rare diseases).

I HOPE you get your decision LOTS faster than I did or a few of us.

Gina Marie