Facing a Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) hearing can feel overwhelming, especially when you don’t know what questions to expect. Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) conduct these hearings to determine whether you meet the legal definition of disability and are entitled to benefits. While every hearing is unique, ALJs typically ask questions that fall into predictable categories designed to assess your credibility, functional limitations, and ability to work.
This comprehensive guide covers the 280 most common questions asked during SSDI hearings, organized by topic area. Each question includes an explanation of what the ALJ hopes to learn and how your answer might influence the outcome of your case. Understanding these questions in advance allows you to prepare thoughtful, accurate responses that align with your medical records and strengthen your credibility.
The key to a successful hearing is consistency. Your testimony must match your medical records, written statements, and daily activities. Any contradictions can undermine your case, while clear, honest answers that demonstrate your limitations can significantly improve your chances of approval.
Remember, the ALJ isn’t trying to trick you—they’re gathering information to make an informed decision about your disability claim. Being prepared for these questions helps ensure you present your case in the strongest possible light.
Personal Identification & Demographics
Purpose: These opening questions establish your identity and basic demographic information that affects how disability rules apply to your case. Your age, education level, and language skills all factor into the vocational grid rules that determine whether you’re considered disabled. The ALJ needs this information to apply the correct legal standards and ensure they’re making decisions about the right person’s case.
- Please state your full legal name for the record.
What the ALJ wants to know – Verify identity for the official transcript.
How it can affect your case – No direct impact unless you give a name that conflicts with the file, which could raise credibility concerns. - What is your date of birth?
Wants to know – Confirm age to apply correct vocational-rule grid.
Impact – Age categories (e.g., “closely approaching advanced age”) may ease or tighten the standard for disability. - Can you provide your Social Security number?
Wants to know – Match your testimony to the right SSA record.
Impact – Errors can delay a decision but usually don’t hurt credibility if quickly corrected. - How tall are you?
Wants to know – Basic biometric; can interact with weight to assess health conditions (e.g., BMI).
Impact – Rarely decisive unless it corroborates or conflicts with medical evidence (e.g., extreme obesity). - What is your current weight?
Wants to know – Establish BMI trends relevant to certain listings (orthopedic, cardiac).
Impact – Large weight swings may support or undercut claimed severity; honesty is critical. - Has your weight changed significantly in the past two years?
Wants to know – Check for medication side effects, depression, metabolic issues.
Impact – Documented fluctuations that match records help credibility; unexplained gaps may hurt. - What is your marital status?
Wants to know – Identify potential household support and payee options.
Impact – No direct effect on disability finding, but spouse income can affect SSI (not SSDI). - Do you have any dependents?
Wants to know – Clarify auxiliary benefit eligibility.
Impact – Doesn’t change disability determination. - Are you a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident?
Wants to know – Confirm SSDI eligibility.
Impact – Non-citizens without proper status may be ineligible even if disabled. - What is your primary language?
Wants to know – Decide if interpreter needed; language deficits can limit job base.
Impact – Limited English proficiency can tilt the vocational rules in your favor at older ages.
Residence & Living Situation
Purpose: Understanding your living arrangements helps the ALJ assess your daily functional capacity and available support systems. Details about your home’s physical layout, accessibility modifications, and who lives with you provide context for your claimed limitations. These questions also help identify whether you receive assistance with daily activities, which can support or contradict your testimony about functional restrictions.
- Where do you currently live (house, apartment, mobile home)?
Wants to know – Basic context; physical layout may show daily challenges.
Impact – Evidence of needing assistance (e.g., single-level vs. multi-story) can support limitations. - How many floors does your residence have?
Wants to know – Gauge stair-climbing demands.
Impact – Difficulty managing stairs bolsters exertional limitations. - Do you live alone or with others?
Wants to know – Assess available help.
Impact – Living alone yet claiming you can’t cook or bathe may appear inconsistent unless you explain outside assistance. - Who helps you with household expenses?
Wants to know – Determine financial dependence.
Impact – No direct medical effect, but shows realism of reported income and credibility. - How long have you lived at this address?
Wants to know – Stability; sudden moves may relate to health or finances.
Impact – Little on its own, but frequent moves could indicate instability consistent with mental impairments. - Do you have any pets?
Wants to know – Pets need care; reveals physical abilities.
Impact – Caring for large animals may contradict severe limitations unless assistance is provided. - What responsibilities do you have for pet care?
Wants to know – Quantify tasks like walking, lifting food bags.
Impact – Detailed, accurate answers can clarify rather than hurt credibility. - Is your home wheelchair-accessible or modified for disabilities?
Wants to know – Corroborate mobility impairments.
Impact – Home modifications support claimed functional limits. - How do you handle stairs inside or outside your home?
Wants to know – Specific exertional difficulties.
Impact – Helps set sit/stand/walk parameters for vocational expert (VE). - Do you rent or own your residence?
Wants to know – Financial context.
Impact – No direct bearing, but stable housing can affect payee considerations.
Family & Household Responsibilities
Purpose: The responsibilities you maintain at home offer concrete examples of your physical and mental capabilities. Caring for children, elderly relatives, or managing household tasks requires specific functional abilities that the ALJ can compare to work demands. If you claim severe limitations but maintain significant caregiving responsibilities, you’ll need to explain how you manage these tasks or what assistance you receive.
- Do you provide childcare?
Wants to know – Physical/mental stamina.
Impact – Intensive childcare could undercut claimed limitations unless heavily assisted. - What are your children’s ages?
Wants to know – Young children often require lifting, bending.
Impact – Caring for toddlers could contradict severe restrictions. - Who helps you care for your children?
Wants to know – Assess support network.
Impact – Full-time help is consistent with severe limits; none may invite probing. - Are you responsible for elderly or disabled relatives?
Wants to know – Similar to childcare—physical and emotional demands.
Impact – Heavy caregiving could show greater capacity than alleged. - Who prepares meals in your household?
Wants to know – Fine-motor use, standing tolerance.
Impact – Cooking elaborate meals may conflict with severe pain claims. - How often do you do laundry?
Wants to know – Lifting baskets, carrying loads.
Impact – Shows upper-body strength/endurance. - Do you do grocery shopping?
Wants to know – Walking/standing in stores.
Impact – Solo weekly trips may suggest more stamina than alleged unless offset by frequent rests. - How do you transport groceries?
Wants to know – Lifting/carrying capacity.
Impact – Light bags vs. 40-lb cases makes a difference in VE testimony. - Who cleans your home?
Wants to know – Vacuuming, mopping indicate bending and pushing.
Impact – Hiring cleaners supports limitations; doing it yourself may not if pain is claimed severe. - What chores are most difficult for you?
Wants to know – Pinpoint functional thresholds.
Impact – Specific, consistent examples boost credibility.
Education & Vocational Training
Purpose: Your educational background and specialized training directly impact the types of jobs available to you under Social Security’s vocational rules. Higher education and technical skills can expand your potential job base, while limited education may work in your favor at certain ages. The ALJ uses this information to determine what work you might be able to perform despite your impairments.
- What is the highest grade you completed in school?
Wants to know – Educational level affects vocational grid.
Impact – Lower education can favor disability at older ages. - Did you receive a GED?
Wants to know – Clarify formal level if high-school diploma absent.
Impact – Same grid considerations as above. - Have you completed any college coursework?
Wants to know – Skill level for sedentary jobs.
Impact – Advanced education may broaden available jobs. - Do you hold any professional licenses or certifications?
Wants to know – Transferable skills.
Impact – Useful licenses can weigh against disability unless physical limits negate usage. - Have you attended vocational training programs?
Wants to know – Additional transferable skills.
Impact – Could expand job base. - What technical skills did you learn?
Wants to know – Details for VE.
Impact – Specialized skills may reduce likelihood of disability if you can still perform them. - Have you taken any continuing-education classes since you stopped working?
Wants to know – Motivation and functional capacity.
Impact – Recent schooling suggests sitting, reading, memory abilities that VE might cite. - Can you read, write, and understand English?
Wants to know – Language grid factor.
Impact – Inability may favor disability in certain age groups. - Do you have computer skills?
Wants to know – Potential for sedentary work.
Impact – Good skills can expand job possibilities; limited skills may help your claim. - How comfortable are you with basic math?
Wants to know – Clerical job suitability.
Impact – Poor math can restrict job base in VE analysis.
Work History (Past 15 Years)
Purpose: Your work history over the past 15 years establishes your “past relevant work”—jobs you performed long enough to learn and that provided substantial gainful activity. The ALJ must determine whether you can still perform any of these jobs as you actually performed them or as they’re generally performed in the economy. Accurate details about job duties, physical demands, and skill levels are crucial for this analysis.
- Please list every job you have held in the last 15 years.
Wants to know – Establish past relevant work.
Impact – ALJ must decide if you can still perform any of these jobs; accuracy is vital. - Which job lasted the longest?
Wants to know – Primary source of transferable skills.
Impact – Longest job often examined closely for “past relevant work” step. - Why did you leave your last job?
Wants to know – Determine onset link to impairment.
Impact – Health-related departure supports claim; layoffs unrelated to health may require more evidence. - What was the heaviest object you had to lift in that job?
Wants to know – Classify job (light, medium, heavy).
Impact – If you claim <10 lbs capacity but past job was very heavy, VE may limit options. - How many hours per day did you stand?
Wants to know – Standing demand details.
Impact – Sedentary vs. light classifications affect decision. - How many hours per day did you sit?
Wants to know – Opposite of above; refine exertional profile.
Impact – Helps define transferable sedentary skills. - Did your job require frequent bending or kneeling?
Wants to know – Postural demands.
Impact – Supports limits if bending now painful. - Did you supervise other employees?
Wants to know – Skill level (SVP) of job.
Impact – Higher SVP can make jobs more transferable. - Did you maintain production quotas?
Wants to know – Pace pressure.
Impact – Mental restrictions against fast pace may preclude similar work. - Were you responsible for detailed paperwork?
Wants to know – Cognitive demands.
Impact – If you now report concentration issues, contrast is probative. - How often did you interact with the public?
Wants to know – Social functioning demands.
Impact – Social-anxiety claims may preclude similar work. - Did your job involve hazardous machinery?
Wants to know – Safety implications with meds or seizures.
Impact – Current medication side-effects can bar return to such work. - Were you exposed to environmental irritants (dust, fumes)?
Wants to know – Asthma/COPD relevance.
Impact – Environmental limitations guide job base. - Did you receive any workplace accommodations?
Wants to know – Document functional limits recognized by employer.
Impact – History of accommodations supports severity. - Have you attempted to return to any of these jobs since your impairment began?
Wants to know – Evaluate unsuccessful work attempts.
Impact – Short, failed return supports disability; sustained return may hurt case.
Job Requirements & Physical Demands
Purpose: These detailed questions about your past work help classify your jobs by exertional level (sedentary, light, medium, heavy) and identify specific physical and mental demands. This information helps the ALJ determine whether your current limitations would prevent you from returning to your past work. The more specific you can be about job requirements, the better the ALJ can assess your remaining work capacity.
- Could you change positions (sit/stand) at will?
Wants to know – Determine flexibility of past jobs.
Impact – If not, and you now need that accommodation, VE may rule out similar jobs. - How many pounds did you regularly carry?
Wants to know – Strength demand.
Impact – Informs exertional level. - Were you required to climb ladders or scaffolds?
Wants to know – Postural/exertional stress.
Impact – Vestibular or orthopedic impairments make such jobs impossible. - Did you use hand tools that required fine manipulation?
Wants to know – Dexterity demand.
Impact – Hand numbness or arthritis could bar past work. - Were you expected to meet strict deadlines?
Wants to know – Pace and stress.
Impact – Mental impairments limiting concentration weigh heavily here. - Did the job involve repetitive motion?
Wants to know – Potential for repetitive-stress injuries.
Impact – Supports carpal-tunnel claims, etc. - Were you permitted breaks when needed?
Wants to know – Flexibility.
Impact – Current need for unscheduled breaks may rule out competitive employment. - Did you ever work overtime?
Wants to know – Stamina in past.
Impact – Contrast with current fatigue helps or hurts. - Did you travel for work?
Wants to know – Physical/mental demands of travel.
Impact – Frequent travel indicates higher functional level then. - Did you ever perform your job while in pain?
Wants to know – Threshold at which pain became disabling.
Impact – Shows worsening trajectory or strong work ethic (credibility plus). - Were you written up for performance issues related to health?
Wants to know – Objective evidence of impairment affecting work.
Impact – Documentation backs your allegations. - Did you miss work frequently due to illness?
Wants to know – Absenteeism proof.
Impact – Excessive absences (>2/month) often deemed work-preclusive. - Did you receive disability accommodations under the ADA?
Wants to know – Employer-acknowledged limitations.
Impact – Shows impairment recognized but still insufficient to stay employed. - Did you attempt part-time or light-duty work?
Wants to know – Effort to remain employed.
Impact – Failed attempts bolster credibility; successful sustained part-time may hurt. - Were any job tasks reassigned to coworkers?
Wants to know – Evidence of declining capacity.
Impact – Supports functional loss claims.
Medical Conditions & Diagnoses
Purpose: Your medical conditions form the foundation of your disability claim. The ALJ needs to understand your diagnoses, when they began, who treated you, and how they’ve progressed over time. This testimony must align with your medical records to maintain credibility. The ALJ also assesses whether your conditions meet or equal the severity of conditions listed in Social Security’s guidelines.
- What primary medical condition prevents you from working?
Wants to know – Main basis for disability.
Impact – Must align with medical records; inconsistencies harm case. - When were you first diagnosed?
Wants to know – Establish onset and insured status window.
Impact – Diagnosis after date-last-insured weakens SSDI claim. - Who made the diagnosis?
Wants to know – Source credibility (specialist > GP).
Impact – Specialist opinions carry more weight. - Do you have any secondary conditions?
Wants to know – Combination of impairments.
Impact – Multiple moderate issues can equal a listing or greater overall limits. - Have any of your conditions improved?
Wants to know – Trajectory.
Impact – Improvement may narrow time period of disability. - Have any worsened?
Wants to know – Need for updated evidence.
Impact – Worsening supports ongoing disability. - Do you suffer from chronic pain?
Wants to know – Pain is key in RFC.
Impact – Must be consistent with objective findings and treatment history. - How would you rate your average pain on a scale of 1-10?
Wants to know – Subjective severity.
Impact – Inflated numbers (always “10”) may look exaggerated; be realistic. - How often do you experience flare-ups?
Wants to know – Frequency and duration.
Impact – Frequent flare-ups requiring downtime can preclude steady work. - Do you have any mental health diagnoses?
Wants to know – Assess non-exertional limits.
Impact – Mental impairments can combine with physical to erode job base. - Have you been hospitalized for your condition?
Wants to know – Severity indicator.
Impact – Multiple hospitalizations lend weight to disability. - How many hospitalizations in the last two years?
Wants to know – Current severity and stability.
Impact – Frequent admissions imply uncontrolled condition. - Have you undergone surgery?
Wants to know – Treatments tried.
Impact – Post-surgical limitations can support claim; refusal without medical reason may hurt. - Are additional surgeries planned?
Wants to know – Future improvement expected.
Impact – Pending surgery could delay decision or suggest potential recovery. - Have doctors told you your condition is permanent?
Wants to know – Prognosis.
Impact – Permanent prognosis strengthens long-term disability argument.
Symptoms & Severity
Purpose: While medical records show diagnoses and test results, your testimony about symptoms provides crucial information about how your conditions actually limit your daily functioning. The ALJ needs specific details about pain levels, fatigue, concentration problems, and other symptoms to assess your residual functional capacity. Quantifying limitations (how long you can sit, stand, walk, or concentrate) helps establish work-related restrictions.
- Describe your most limiting symptom.
Wants to know – Pinpoint primary work barrier.
Impact – Helps craft RFC; must be supported by evidence. - How long can you sit before pain forces you to stand?
Wants to know – Quantify seated tolerance.
Impact – <30 minutes may eliminate most sedentary jobs. - How long can you stand before needing to sit?
Wants to know – Standing tolerance.
Impact – <10 minutes limits light jobs. - How far can you walk without stopping?
Wants to know – Ambulation capacity.
Impact – Short distances restrict even light work. - Do you need to lie down during the day?
Wants to know – Rest breaks beyond normal.
Impact – Regular need can be work-preclusive. - How many good days vs. bad days do you have per week?
Wants to know – Variability.
Impact – More than two bad days weekly often defeats attendance requirements. - Do your symptoms vary with weather?
Wants to know – Document triggers.
Impact – May support credible explanation for fluctuating function. - What triggers your symptoms?
Wants to know – Identify activities to avoid.
Impact – Informs RFC limitations. - How long do flare-ups last?
Wants to know – Duration.
Impact – Long flare-ups impact consistency of attendance. - Do you experience numbness or tingling?
Wants to know – Neurological involvement.
Impact – Affects fine manipulation and safety. - Are you light-sensitive or sound-sensitive?
Wants to know – Migraine or PTSD assessment.
Impact – Environmental restrictions for VE. - Do you experience shortness of breath?
Wants to know – Cardio/pulmo limitations.
Impact – May reduce exertional level. - Do you have memory lapses?
Wants to know – Cognitive deficits.
Impact – Severe lapses can preclude skilled jobs. - Do you experience panic attacks?
Wants to know – Frequency/severity of anxiety.
Impact – Unpredictable attacks undermine attendance and public interaction. - How often do you lose focus or concentration?
Wants to know – Sustainability for work pace.
Impact – Persistent focus loss narrows job base.
Treatment History & Compliance
Purpose: Your treatment history demonstrates the severity of your conditions and your efforts to improve. The ALJ evaluates whether you’ve followed prescribed treatments and whether you have valid reasons for any non-compliance. Failure to follow treatment without good cause can result in denial of benefits. The ALJ also considers whether additional treatments might improve your condition enough to allow work.
- Who is your primary treating physician?
Wants to know – Weight to give opinion.
Impact – Consistent long-term treatment bolsters credibility. - How often do you see that doctor?
Wants to know – Continuity of care.
Impact – Infrequent visits without good reason can imply condition not severe. - Do you see any specialists?
Wants to know – Depth of treatment.
Impact – Specialists’ findings carry weight. - Have you attended physical therapy?
Wants to know – Conservative treatment tried.
Impact – Refusal or non-completion can raise non-compliance issues. - Did therapy help?
Wants to know – Efficacy of treatment.
Impact – Significant improvement may undercut severity. - Have you tried chiropractic care?
Wants to know – Additional modalities.
Impact – Shows proactive patient vs. passive. - Have you pursued psychological counseling?
Wants to know – Mental-health treatment compliance.
Impact – Lack of counseling despite severe depression claims may hurt case. - Are you following all prescribed treatments?
Wants to know – Compliance.
Impact – Non-compliance without good cause can lead to denial. - Have doctors recommended treatments you have not tried?
Wants to know – Why treatment not pursued.
Impact – Financial or medical contraindications acceptable; mere refusal harms credibility. - If so, why not?
Wants to know – Reasonableness of refusal.
Impact – Valid reasons preserve claim; no reason harms.
Medications & Side Effects
Purpose: Medications serve as both treatment for your conditions and potential sources of additional limitations. The ALJ needs to understand what medications you take, how effective they are, and what side effects you experience. Severe medication side effects like drowsiness, nausea, or cognitive impairment can support additional functional limitations beyond those caused by your underlying conditions.
- Please list your current medications.
Wants to know – Treatment regimen.
Impact – Confirms severity and possible side-effects. - What dosage do you take?
Wants to know – Adequacy of therapy.
Impact – Low doses may suggest mild condition unless contraindicated. - How often do you take each medication?
Wants to know – Adherence.
Impact – Irregular use can weaken claim. - Do they relieve your symptoms?
Wants to know – Effectiveness.
Impact – Complete relief undermines disability; partial relief still helpful. - How long after each dose do you feel relief?
Wants to know – Onset/offset to schedule RFC.
Impact – Short relief periods support frequent breaks. - Do you experience drowsiness?
Wants to know – Side-effect impact on work.
Impact – Excessive sedation supports functional limits. - Do you experience nausea?
Wants to know – Same as above.
Impact – May justify restroom breaks. - Do medications affect your concentration?
Wants to know – Cognitive side-effects.
Impact – Helps set mental RFC limits. - Have you had allergic reactions?
Wants to know – Treatment limitations.
Impact – Limited med options can support severity. - Have you changed medications due to cost?
Wants to know – Financial barriers.
Impact – Explains gaps in care; not held against you.
Pain Assessment
Purpose: Chronic pain is one of the most common and disabling symptoms claimants report. Since pain is subjective and may not always correlate with objective medical findings, the ALJ carefully evaluates your pain testimony for consistency and credibility. Detailed descriptions of pain location, intensity, triggers, and relief measures help the ALJ assess how pain limits your ability to work.
- Where is the pain located?
Wants to know – Anatomical correlation.
Impact – Must match medical imaging. - Is it constant or intermittent?
Wants to know – Duration.
Impact – Intermittent pain may still be disabling if frequent. - What activities worsen the pain?
Wants to know – Functional triggers.
Impact – Helps carve restrictions. - Does rest provide relief?
Wants to know – Recovery ability.
Impact – Limited relief supports severity. - Does medication fully relieve pain?
Wants to know – Treatment efficacy.
Impact – Full relief weakens claim. - Do heat or cold packs help?
Wants to know – Conservative measures.
Impact – Need for hourly application could affect job feasibility. - Do you use a TENS unit?
Wants to know – Additional therapy.
Impact – Frequent TENS breaks support restrictions. - Have you tried epidural injections?
Wants to know – Aggressiveness of treatment.
Impact – Multiple injections with limited relief strengthen case. - Does your pain affect sleep?
Wants to know – Secondary functional impact.
Impact – Chronic fatigue a valid limiter. - How many nights per week do you sleep less than four hours?
Wants to know – Quantify sleep deficit.
Impact – Persistent insomnia can erode concentration.
Mental Health Functioning
Purpose: Mental health conditions can be just as disabling as physical impairments, often limiting your ability to maintain concentration, interact with others, or handle workplace stress. The ALJ assesses your mental functioning in four key areas: understanding and memory, sustained concentration, social interaction, and adaptation to changes. These limitations can significantly narrow the types of work you can perform.
- Do you experience depression?
Wants to know – Severity of affective symptoms.
Impact – May warrant mental RFC limits. - Have you had suicidal thoughts?
Wants to know – Crisis level.
Impact – Serious thoughts indicate marked limitations. - Do you experience anxiety in crowds?
Wants to know – Social functioning.
Impact – Could preclude public-interaction jobs. - Do you have difficulty leaving home alone?
Wants to know – Agoraphobia severity.
Impact – Supports marked social limitation. - Do you struggle with anger or irritability?
Wants to know – Workplace comportment.
Impact – Poor temper control may limit teamwork jobs. - Do you hear voices or experience hallucinations?
Wants to know – Psychotic symptoms.
Impact – Usually disabling if frequent. - How often do you have panic attacks?
Wants to know – Frequency translates to unscheduled breaks.
Impact – More than one per week can be work-preclusive. - Can you handle stress?
Wants to know – Tolerance for workplace pressures.
Impact – Low tolerance can narrow job base to low-stress occupations. - Do you remember appointments?
Wants to know – Short-term memory.
Impact – Need for reminders reduces reliability. - Can you manage your finances without help?
Wants to know – Concentration and math skills.
Impact – Inability may require representative payee.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Purpose: How you manage daily activities like bathing, dressing, cooking, and cleaning provides real-world evidence of your functional capacity. The ALJ compares these activities to work demands to assess consistency. If you can perform complex household tasks, the ALJ may question whether you could perform similar work activities. However, performing limited activities with frequent breaks or assistance can still support disability claims.
- Describe a typical day from waking to bedtime.
Wants to know – Overall functioning snapshot.
Impact – Inconsistencies with medical evidence can undermine case. - How long does it take you to dress?
Wants to know – Upper-body mobility.
Impact – Extended times support fine-motor deficits or pain. - Can you bathe without assistance?
Wants to know – Balance and reach.
Impact – Need for help supports severe limitations. - Do you cook meals?
Wants to know – Standing tolerance.
Impact – Short microwaving vs. full meals shows differing capacity. - How long can you stand at the stove?
Wants to know – Specific endurance.
Impact – <10 minutes supports light RFC. - Do you wash dishes by hand?
Wants to know – Grip strength and standing endurance.
Impact – Frequent washing may conflict with severe hand pain. - Can you vacuum or sweep?
Wants to know – Pushing/pulling tolerance.
Impact – Ability undermines claims of severe back pain unless limited. - How often do you change your bed linens?
Wants to know – Bending and lifting.
Impact – Regular changes solo may be inconsistent with claimed limits. - Do you mow the lawn?
Wants to know – Endurance and vibration tolerance.
Impact – Mowing heavy equipment may conflict with limitations. - Do you garden?
Wants to know – Hobbies requiring lifting/bending.
Impact – Light gardening okay; extensive may undermine. - Can you shop for groceries alone?
Wants to know – Mobility and social capacity.
Impact – If yes, details matter (small trips vs. weekly cart). - How long can you walk in a store?
Wants to know – Endurance.
Impact – Short tolerance supports severe limits. - Do you attend religious services?
Wants to know – Social engagement.
Impact – Occasional attendance rarely harmful; weekly long services may matter. - Do you visit friends or relatives?
Wants to know – Social functioning and stamina.
Impact – Frequent long visits could contradict debilitating fatigue claims. - Do you attend children’s school events?
Wants to know – Public navigating ability.
Impact – Sporadic attendance okay; regular active participation may conflict with severe limits.
Social & Recreational Activities
Purpose: Your participation in social activities, hobbies, and recreational pursuits offers insight into your stamina, concentration, and social functioning. The ALJ looks for consistency between your claimed limitations and your activity level. Completely avoiding social activities may support severe mental health limitations, while maintaining active social engagement could contradict claims of disabling anxiety or depression.
- Do you have hobbies?
Wants to know – Fine-motor and concentration capacity.
Impact – Hobbies like woodworking could conflict with hand-pain allegations. - Have you had to give up hobbies because of your condition?
Wants to know – Functional loss over time.
Impact – Supports progression. - Do you belong to clubs or organizations?
Wants to know – Social interaction.
Impact – Regular club meetings may undercut severe anxiety claims. - Do you dine out?
Wants to know – Leaving home frequency.
Impact – Infrequent outings consistent with limits; weekly dining may raise questions. - Do you travel on vacation?
Wants to know – Travel endurance.
Impact – Air travel or long drives may conflict with sitting intolerance unless accommodations noted. - How often do you leave the house in a typical week?
Wants to know – Overall activity level.
Impact – Rare outings bolster severe limits narrative. - Do you use social media?
Wants to know – Cognitive and social engagement.
Impact – Mild usage fine; extensive posting of active lifestyle may hurt. - Do you watch television or read?
Wants to know – Attention span.
Impact – Ability to read novels could contradict concentration issues. - Can you attend sports events?
Wants to know – Crowd tolerance and sitting.
Impact – Occasional attendance with discomfort okay; regular comfortable attendance may conflict. - Do you participate in exercise programs?
Wants to know – Physical capacity.
Impact – Light doctor-approved exercise expected; vigorous workouts undermine severe limits.
Functional Capacity — Physical
Purpose: These questions establish specific physical limitations that form the basis of your residual functional capacity (RFC). The ALJ needs precise information about how much you can lift, carry, sit, stand, walk, and manipulate objects. These limitations determine whether you can perform sedentary, light, medium, or heavy work. Even small differences in capacity (lifting 5 pounds versus 10 pounds) can significantly impact the number of available jobs.
- How many pounds can you lift frequently?
Wants to know – Set RFC limits.
Impact – <10 lbs shifts to sedentary range. - How many pounds can you lift occasionally?
Wants to know – Same.
Impact – ≥50 lbs suggests medium work; mismatches could hurt. - Can you reach overhead?
Wants to know – Shoulder limitations.
Impact – Limited reaching can erode job numbers. - Can you reach in front of your body?
Wants to know – Arm flexibility.
Impact – Severe limits restrict even sedentary jobs. - Can you finger and handle small objects?
Wants to know – Manual dexterity.
Impact – Limitations can eliminate clerical jobs. - Can you stoop or crouch?
Wants to know – Postural abilities.
Impact – Inability removes many light jobs. - Can you crawl?
Wants to know – Less common, but used in specific jobs.
Impact – Rarely decisive unless job required. - Can you climb stairs?
Wants to know – Lower-extremity strength.
Impact – Need for handrails limits certain work sites. - Do you need handrails?
Wants to know – Balance issues.
Impact – Safety concerns. - Do you require a cane?
Wants to know – Ambulatory aid.
Impact – Cane need can erode light job base; must be prescribed/documented. - Do you use a walker?
Wants to know – More severe.
Impact – Usually precludes substantial gainful activity (SGA). - Do you experience falls?
Wants to know – Safety hazard.
Impact – Frequent falls weight heavily toward disability. - How often do you drop objects?
Wants to know – Grip issues.
Impact – Affects assembly and clerical tasks. - Can you type on a keyboard?
Wants to know – Fine-motor skill.
Impact – Inability limits many sedentary jobs. - Can you grasp and turn knobs?
Wants to know – Hand dexterity.
Impact – Basic manipulation requirement for most jobs.
Functional Capacity — Cognitive/Mental
Purpose: Mental functional limitations are often as important as physical ones in determining disability. The ALJ assesses your ability to maintain attention and concentration, follow instructions, interact appropriately with others, and adapt to workplace changes. Significant limitations in any of these areas can eliminate large categories of jobs, even if you retain the physical capacity for work.
- Can you follow written instructions?
Wants to know – Working memory.
Impact – Deficits limit skilled/semi-skilled jobs. - Can you follow spoken instructions?
Wants to know – Auditory processing.
Impact – Important for workplaces without written procedures. - Do you complete tasks you start?
Wants to know – Persistence.
Impact – Low persistence undermines productivity. - Do you finish household projects?
Wants to know – Real-world evidence of persistence.
Impact – Abandoned projects consistent with concentration limits. - Can you maintain attention for a two-hour block?
Wants to know – SSA benchmark for competitive work.
Impact – Inability often precludes full-time work. - Do you need reminders for medication?
Wants to know – Memory and executive function.
Impact – Frequent reminders indicate moderate to marked limitation. - Do you get along with supervisors?
Wants to know – Social interaction capacity.
Impact – Poor relations limit jobs requiring supervision. - Have you had conflicts with coworkers?
Wants to know – Teamwork abilities.
Impact – Documented conflicts support social limitations. - Do you handle changes in routine?
Wants to know – Adaptability.
Impact – Low adaptability narrows job types. - Can you make independent decisions?
Wants to know – Judgment.
Impact – Poor judgment can limit any work.
Assistive Devices & Adaptive Equipment
Purpose: Medically necessary assistive devices like canes, walkers, or wheelchairs can significantly impact your ability to work. The ALJ determines whether these devices are truly medically required and how they limit your functional capacity. Devices that restrict your ability to carry items or navigate workplace environments can eliminate many job opportunities and support disability findings.
- Do you use a cane?
Wants to know – Level of assistance.
Impact – Must be medically necessary to affect RFC. - Do you use a walker?
Wants to know – Greater assistance.
Impact – Often eliminates most jobs. - Do you use a wheelchair?
Wants to know – Non-ambulatory status.
Impact – Requires wheelchair-accessible job bases, which are rare. - Do you use braces or splints?
Wants to know – Orthopedic support.
Impact – May limit fine manipulation or mobility. - Do you need special ergonomic seating?
Wants to know – Back/hip limitations.
Impact – Availability of such seats in jobs relevant. - Do you require ankle-foot orthotics?
Wants to know – Foot drop support.
Impact – Suggests serious gait impairment. - Do you wear compression garments?
Wants to know – Vascular/lymphedema issues.
Impact – Frequent leg elevation may be needed. - Do you use a CPAP machine?
Wants to know – Sleep apnea treatment.
Impact – Untreated apnea can impair concentration; compliant use shows treatment effort. - Do you need hearing aids?
Wants to know – Auditory limitation.
Impact – Severe loss even with aids can limit certain jobs. - Do you rely on screen-reading software?
Wants to know – Visual impairment adaptation.
Impact – Severe visual impairment plus limited adaptation can be disabling.
Driving & Transportation
Purpose: Your ability to drive provides evidence of your concentration, reaction time, vision, and physical coordination. It also affects your ability to access potential jobs. Inability to drive due to medical conditions or medication side effects can support functional limitations and may restrict your job search radius. However, the ability to drive doesn’t necessarily contradict disability claims if other limitations prevent work.
- Do you drive?
Wants to know – Hand/foot coordination, alertness.
Impact – Active driving suggests some functional capacity; inability can limit job access. - How far can you drive before pain becomes severe?
Wants to know – Sitting tolerance.
Impact – Short tolerance supports limitations. - Did you drive yourself to the hearing today?
Wants to know – Real-time example of capacity.
Impact – Long drive alone may contradict severe sitting intolerance unless explained. - If not, who drove and why?
Wants to know – Need for assistance.
Impact – Supports severity if due to symptoms, not license issues. - Do medications impair your ability to drive?
Wants to know – Side-effect impacts.
Impact – Safety concerns bolster limits. - Do you use public transportation?
Wants to know – Mobility and social tolerance.
Impact – Inability indicates higher limitations; ability shows some independence. - How often do you ride the bus or train?
Wants to know – Frequency measure.
Impact – Regular commuting could weaken claim unless medically necessary. - Can you walk to a bus stop?
Wants to know – Walking endurance.
Impact – Short distance only may still support disability. - Do you rely on paratransit services?
Wants to know – Special accommodations.
Impact – Supports severe mobility or cognitive issues. - Have you ever stopped driving for safety reasons?
Wants to know – Impact of impairments.
Impact – Supports limitations (e.g., seizures, vision).
Substance Use & Lifestyle Factors
Purpose: The ALJ must determine whether drug or alcohol abuse contributes to your disability. If substance use is a “material” factor in your impairments, you may be denied benefits even if you’re otherwise disabled. The ALJ evaluates whether you would still be disabled if you stopped using substances. Lifestyle factors like smoking may also be considered when evaluating the severity of respiratory conditions.
- Do you smoke cigarettes?
Wants to know – Respiratory risk factor.
Impact – Ongoing smoking may diminish sympathy but rarely determinative. - How many per day?
Wants to know – Quantify risk.
Impact – Heavy use may worsen COPD, supporting claim. - Do you consume alcohol?
Wants to know – Potential DAA (drug/alcohol abuse) involvement.
Impact – Material alcoholism can lead to denial if it’s primary cause. - How often?
Wants to know – Severity.
Impact – Daily heavy use problematic. - Do you use recreational drugs?
Wants to know – DAA consideration.
Impact – Current illegal use may undercut claim and credibility.
Financial & Benefit History
Purpose: Other benefits you receive or have applied for can provide additional evidence about your functional capacity and onset date. However, receiving unemployment benefits while claiming disability can create complications, since unemployment benefits typically require you to be “ready, willing, and able” to work. The ALJ will want you to explain any apparent inconsistencies between different benefit applications.
- Are you receiving unemployment benefits?
Wants to know – Claimant’s assertion of ability to work.
Impact – Claiming you’re “ready, willing, and able” to work can conflict with disability. - Do you receive workers’ compensation?
Wants to know – Overlap and offset issues.
Impact – May reduce SSDI but not fatal. - Have you applied for long-term disability insurance benefits?
Wants to know – Consistency across claims.
Impact – Approval supports disability; denial may require explanation. - Do you have any income from part-time work?
Wants to know – Evaluate substantial gainful activity (SGA).
Impact – Earnings above SGA can lead to denial. - Are you receiving SNAP or other public assistance?
Wants to know – Context.
Impact – Doesn’t affect disability finding.
Past Applications & Appeals
Purpose: Previous disability applications and appeals become part of your case record. The ALJ reviews prior decisions and evidence to ensure consistency. If you’ve been denied before, you’ll need new evidence or a change in circumstances to support your current claim. Inconsistencies between applications can damage your credibility unless properly explained.
- Have you filed prior SSDI applications?
Wants to know – Res judicata considerations.
Impact – Consistent allegations help; shifting onset dates may hurt. - Were they denied?
Wants to know – Procedural history.
Impact – Prior denial not fatal but requires new evidence. - Did you appeal those denials?
Wants to know – Diligence.
Impact – Late appeals may shift onset date. - Have you filed for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
Wants to know – Potential concurrent benefits.
Impact – No effect on SSDI medical decision. - Are any claims still pending?
Wants to know – Administrative efficiency.
Impact – Coordinate records.
Future Medical Plans & Prognosis
Purpose: The ALJ considers whether your condition is expected to improve enough to allow work in the future. Planned surgeries or treatments that might significantly improve your functioning could affect the disability determination. However, uncertain outcomes or treatments that might only provide minimal improvement typically don’t prevent a finding of disability.
- Do your doctors expect further improvement?
Wants to know – Outlook.
Impact – Expected improvement may lead to closed-period award. - Are additional surgeries scheduled?
Wants to know – Near-term recovery potential.
Impact – Could delay decision or suggest future capacity. - Do you expect to participate in rehabilitation?
Wants to know – Efforts to get better.
Impact – Refusal without reason can hurt. - Have you discussed prognosis with your specialists?
Wants to know – Patient understanding.
Impact – Accurate statements support credibility. - Do you anticipate returning to work within a year?
Wants to know – Self-assessment.
Impact – Saying “yes” undercuts claim unless job vastly different/light.
Vocational Rehabilitation & Job Seeking
Purpose: Efforts to retrain for new work or attempts to find employment demonstrate your motivation to work and can provide evidence about your actual functional capacity. Successful vocational rehabilitation might hurt your case if it shows you can perform substantial gainful activity. Failed attempts, especially those that failed due to your medical conditions, can support your disability claim.
- Have you contacted vocational rehabilitation services?
Wants to know – Efforts to work.
Impact – Good-faith effort helps credibility. - Have you attempted retraining?
Wants to know – Same.
Impact – Successful retraining may hurt if jobs exist; failed attempts help. - Have you applied for sheltered workshop positions?
Wants to know – Alternative employment.
Impact – Demonstrates desire to work; failure due to symptoms supports claim. - Are you currently seeking any employment?
Wants to know – Consistency with allegations.
Impact – Active search may conflict with claim unless part-time/trial. - Would you be able to work with accommodations?
Wants to know – Residual capacity.
Impact – Answer should match documented limits; unrealistic yes may hurt.
Consistency & Credibility
Purpose: These questions directly address the truthfulness and consistency of your testimony. The ALJ assesses whether your statements align with your medical records, daily activities, and other evidence. Credibility is often the deciding factor in close cases. Honest, detailed testimony that acknowledges both your limitations and abilities while remaining consistent with documented evidence presents the strongest case.
- Did you complete your own Function Report?
Wants to know – Authenticity.
Impact – Third-party completion must be disclosed. - Are the statements in that report true and correct?
Wants to know – Affirm accuracy.
Impact – Inconsistencies can sink case. - Have you been truthful with your medical providers?
Wants to know – Honesty.
Impact – Admitted exaggeration undermines claim. - Have you exaggerated your symptoms to anyone?
Wants to know – Credibility test.
Impact – Denial expected; admission fatal. - Do your daily activities contradict your claimed limitations?
Wants to know – Give chance to reconcile evidence.
Impact – Well-explained contradictions can salvage credibility.
Miscellaneous Hearing Procedure Questions
Purpose: These procedural questions ensure you understand the hearing process and your rights. They help establish that you’re mentally competent to participate in the proceedings and that you’ve had adequate opportunity to present your case. While these questions don’t directly affect the medical determination, they ensure the hearing meets due process requirements.
- Do you understand why you are here today?
Wants to know – Procedural comprehension.
Impact – Shows mental competency. - Are you comfortable proceeding without an attorney?
Wants to know – Ensure due-process rights.
Impact – No direct effect on merits. - Do you have any witnesses you would like me to hear?
Wants to know – Additional evidence.
Impact – Witnesses can bolster credibility. - Is there anything you would like to add that we have not covered?
Wants to know – Catch-all.
Impact – Opportunity to address weak spots. - Do you understand that you are testifying under oath?
Wants to know – Affirm seriousness.
Impact – False testimony risks penalties and denial.
Hearing-Specific Procedure & Witness Testimony
Purpose: These administrative questions help manage the hearing process efficiently and ensure all relevant evidence is properly considered. They provide opportunities to correct errors in the record, present additional evidence, and address any procedural concerns that might affect the fairness of the hearing.
- Do you object to the exhibit list?
Wants to know – Record completeness.
Impact – Objections may add missing evidence. - Have you reviewed your medical records recently?
Wants to know – Awareness.
Impact – Helps align testimony with records. - Do you have any corrections to the record?
Wants to know – Accuracy.
Impact – Fix errors that could hurt case. - Do you waive a reading of the issues?
Wants to know – Efficiency.
Impact – No effect on merits. - Do you have questions for the vocational expert?
Wants to know – Representative’s role.
Impact – Well-placed VE questions can clarify job numbers.
Representative-Payee & Capability (Financial Management)
Purpose: These questions assess your ability to manage finances independently, which can indicate the severity of mental or cognitive impairments. If the ALJ determines you need a representative payee to manage your benefits, it supports findings of significant functional limitations. However, needing a payee doesn’t automatically mean you’re disabled—it’s just one factor in the overall assessment.
- Have you ever had a representative payee before?
Wants to know – Capability to manage funds.
Impact – Prior payee supports mental/cognitive limits. - Has any doctor or counselor suggested you might need a payee now?
Wants to know – Current capacity.
Impact – Recommendation implies significant mental limitation. - Who currently helps you pay monthly bills?
Wants to know – Practical functioning.
Impact – Regular help supports payee need. - Do you remember to refill prescriptions and pay co-pays on time?
Wants to know – Executive functioning.
Impact – Frequent lapses bolster cognitive limitation argument.
Substance-Use Materiality & Legal History
Purpose: The ALJ must determine if substance abuse is a material contributing factor to your disability. If your impairments would improve to the point where you could work if you stopped using drugs or alcohol, benefits may be denied. The ALJ also considers whether legal issues might affect your ability to work, though Social Security focuses on medical inability rather than legal barriers.
- Have you used alcohol, cannabis, or other substances in the last 12 months?
Wants to know – DAA analysis.
Impact – If use is material to impairment, benefits may be denied. - If yes, has a doctor linked continued use to a worsening of your symptoms?
Wants to know – Materiality.
Impact – Material contribution could lead to denial unless evidence shows disability independent of use. - Have you ever been court-ordered to treatment?
Wants to know – Legal history affecting credibility.
Impact – May raise compliance concerns. - Do you have any felony convictions that restrict certain types of employment?
Wants to know – Vocational feasibility.
Impact – SSA focuses on medical inability, not legal barriers, but VE may note job exclusions.
Less-Common Medical Symptoms
Purpose: These questions address symptoms that, while not universal, can be severely disabling when present. Incontinence issues, frequent restroom needs, and other bodily function problems can make competitive employment impossible, even if other limitations might be manageable. The ALJ needs specific details about frequency and severity to assess work impact.
- Do you experience bowel or bladder incontinence?
Wants to know – Listing 1.00Q/11.00 symptoms.
Impact – Frequent accidents often preclude employment. - If so, how often do accidents occur in a typical week?
Wants to know – Severity.
Impact – Regular accidents require unscheduled breaks—a strong disability factor. - Do you require unscheduled restroom breaks at least once an hour?
Wants to know – Workplace feasibility.
Impact – Hourly breaks usually incompatible with competitive work.
Assistive Technology & Remote-Work Feasibility
Purpose: With increasing remote work opportunities, the ALJ may explore whether adaptive technology or work-from-home arrangements could enable you to work despite your limitations. However, if such accommodations are rare in the economy or your limitations prevent even remote work with accommodations, this supports your disability claim.
- Can you operate a computer with adaptive equipment (e.g., speech-to-text)?
Wants to know – Remote job potential.
Impact – Effective use may broaden job base; inability narrows. - Would working from home with frequent breaks make competitive employment possible?
Wants to know – Reasonable accommodation potential.
Impact – If you concede yes, ALJ may deny unless home jobs are rare with breaks that frequent. - Have you tried any part-time remote work since your alleged onset date?
Wants to know – Actual capacity.
Impact – Failed attempts help; successful may hurt.
Telehealth & Ongoing Care
Purpose: The shift to telehealth services, especially post-2020, affects how medical care is delivered and documented. The ALJ needs to understand whether your treatment pattern reflects the severity of your conditions or simply changes in healthcare delivery. Gaps in care due to technology issues are generally not held against claimants.
- How many of your medical visits are via telehealth rather than in office?
Wants to know – Access to care and severity.
Impact – Exclusive telehealth may invite scrutiny but common post-2020. - Does virtual care adequately monitor your condition, or do you need in-person exams?
Wants to know – Adequacy of treatment.
Impact – Need for frequent in-person visits shows seriousness. - Do you miss telehealth appointments because of technical issues?
Wants to know – Compliance factors not your fault.
Impact – Explains gaps in treatment notes.
Vocational-Expert (VE) Hypotheticals
Purpose: These questions help establish whether specific limitations would eliminate all work in the national economy. The ALJ uses your answers to formulate hypothetical questions for the vocational expert. Your honest assessment of your capabilities helps ensure the VE’s testimony accurately reflects your limitations.
- Given a need to lie down twice a day for 45 minutes, are there any jobs in the national economy?
Wants to know – VE opinion.
Impact – Usually VE says “no,” supporting disability. - If the VE says “Yes,” do you believe you could realistically perform that work five days a week?
Wants to know – Claimant’s rebuttal.
Impact – Your credible testimony can counter VE opinion.
Symptom Variability & Scheduling
Purpose: Consistency and reliability are crucial for competitive employment. These questions help quantify how often you could realistically maintain work attendance and performance. Significant variability in your functioning can be as disabling as consistently severe limitations.
- What is the maximum number of predictable, full workdays you have in an average month?
Wants to know – Attendance reliability.
Impact – <8 full days/month usually precludes SGA. - How many unscheduled absences did you have in your last job because of flare-ups?
Wants to know – Objective history.
Impact – >2/month supports disability.
Credibility & Electronic Footprint
Purpose: In the digital age, ALJs may consider social media posts, fitness tracker data, and other electronic evidence that might contradict claimed limitations. These questions give you the opportunity to explain any apparent inconsistencies before they damage your credibility.
- Have you posted photos or videos online showing activities you now say you cannot do?
Wants to know – Potential contradictory evidence.
Impact – If yes, credibility damage can be fatal. - Do you track your daily steps or heart rate with a wearable device? May we review that data?
Wants to know – Objective activity level.
Impact – High step counts undermine severe limits; low counts support.
Post-Decision Planning
Purpose: These questions don’t affect the disability determination but help with administrative planning and demonstrate your seriousness about your health conditions. They may also reveal your understanding of your prognosis and treatment needs.
- If benefits are granted, do you have a plan for medical follow-up and therapy adherence?
Wants to know – Commitment to health.
Impact – Shows seriousness; non-plan won’t hurt merits. - If benefits are denied, what alternative income or support options do you have?
Wants to know – Administrative courtesy.
Impact – No effect on current decision.
Child- & Elder-Care Conflicts
Purpose: Caregiving responsibilities can create complex situations where you may perform physically demanding tasks despite severe limitations. The ALJ needs to understand how you manage these responsibilities and whether they truly conflict with your claimed limitations or if you receive significant assistance.
- If you care for minors or elderly relatives, how many hours per week are you the sole caregiver?
Wants to know – Time demands vs. limitations.
Impact – Extensive caregiving may contradict severe physical limits. - Would paid outside help reduce your caregiving demands enough to let you attempt work?
Wants to know – Barrier is caregiving or impairment?
Impact – If impairment still prevents work, state that clearly.
Safety & Emergency Issues
Purpose: Frequent medical emergencies or the need for immediate medical intervention support the severity of your conditions. These questions help establish whether your impairments create safety concerns that would make competitive employment impossible.
- Have you ever required emergency services (paramedics, ER) in the past six months?
Wants to know – Recent severity.
Impact – Multiple ER trips bolster claim. - Do you keep emergency medication (e.g., rescue inhaler, nitroglycerin) within reach at all times?
Wants to know – Risk of acute episodes.
Impact – Need for immediate access supports significant impairment.
Closing Opportunity
Purpose: This final question gives you the chance to address any gaps in your testimony, clarify inconsistencies, or emphasize your most limiting symptoms. Use this opportunity wisely to reinforce the key points that support your disability claim.
- Is there any other information—medical, personal, or work-related—that you believe the Court must consider before ruling?
Wants to know – Final chance to address gaps.
Impact – Use wisely to reinforce key limitations or clarify inconsistencies.
Conclusion
Understanding what questions to expect at your SSDI hearing is crucial for presenting a compelling case. The 280 questions outlined in this guide represent the most common areas ALJs explore when evaluating disability claims. By preparing thoughtful, honest answers that align with your medical records and daily reality, you significantly improve your chances of a favorable decision.
Remember these key principles as you prepare for your hearing:
Consistency is critical. Your testimony must align with your medical records, written statements, and observed activities. Any contradictions can undermine your credibility and damage your case.
Be specific and honest. Vague answers or obvious exaggerations hurt your credibility. Provide detailed, realistic descriptions of your limitations while acknowledging what you can still do.
Focus on function, not just diagnosis. The ALJ needs to understand how your conditions actually limit your daily activities and ability to work, not just what diagnoses you have.
Prepare examples. Have specific examples ready of how your conditions affect daily tasks, work attempts, or activities you can no longer perform.
Stay calm and focused. Hearings can be stressful, but maintaining composure and answering questions directly helps present your case effectively.
While this guide covers the most common questions, every hearing is unique. Work with your attorney or representative to review your specific case and prepare for questions that might be particularly relevant to your situation. With proper preparation and honest testimony, you can present your disability case in the strongest possible light and improve your chances of receiving the benefits you deserve.
The SSDI hearing is your opportunity to tell your story and explain how your medical conditions prevent you from working. By understanding what the ALJ needs to know and preparing accordingly, you can approach your hearing with confidence and clarity.
Final Tip: Remember that this guide is for preparation purposes. The actual questions asked will vary based on your specific case, medical conditions, and work history. Use this as a framework to understand the types of information ALJs typically seek, but always be prepared to provide honest, detailed answers about your unique situation.