ODAR is an acronym. Once your Request for Hearing is received by the Social Security Administration it is forwarded with your file to the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review known as ODAR. They will send you a letter confirming receipt of your case and will review it to see whether or not hey can issue a favorable decision without scheduling a hearing. If not, you get to wait in line as your case waits its turn to be prepared for hearing.

The file is prepared for and reviewed by an administrative law judge and scheduled for a hearing, unfortunately in the Tampa Bay area, this can take almost twenty-four months.

You will receive notification from ODAR of the hearing date in the mail 20 days in advance and if you have an attorney, such as Social Security Disability benefits denied attorney Sharon Barrett, they will also be notified.

It is important in this twenty four month period of time that you continue to get medical treatment and that medical records be obtained to document your continuing disability. Sharon Barrett, Tampa Bay area Social Security Disability attorney, monitors the progress of your file within the ODAR office, updates your file with medical records, submitting them to ODAR, and notifies you of the hearing.

If you would like more information about your rights regarding Social Security Disability Benefits, you can order our FREE book,"Your Rights to Social Security Disability Benefits" by submitting the form in the sidebar. We will send it out immediately along with other important information.

For more information about Social Security Disability Benefits, visit our law firm web site at CaveyLaw.com. If you would like to speak with one of our Social Security Disability Benefits attorneys about your case, feel free to call us anytime at (727) 897-9117 or simply submit our contact form and we will get back to you quickly.

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Are you a veteran who’s been given a disability rating and are applying for Social Security disability benefits?

If the Veterans Administration found that your disability is “permanent and total” and “you are unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to disability”, the administrative law judge in a Social Security hearing must give great weight to the Veterans’ Administration disability rating.

Make sure you provide Social Security with documentation of any VA disability ratings you’ve received as this will help with your Social Security disability claim. Another crucial step in obtaining a successful claim is to contact an experienced Social Security Disability attorney such as Nancy Cavey.

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Generally, the answer is no! The hearing  will take 45 to 60 minutes. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) may ask all the questions or let your attorney ask the questions. The ALJ knows what questions he wants answered and does not want to hear your life story.

The ALJ wants to hear about the 5 hurdles I talked about in earlier posts. Nothing more and nothing less.  The time will fly by.

The ALJ makes a decision about your case primarily based on your medical records and your testimony. Unless a friend or family member can add something new, it is generally not helpful to have additional witnesses at your hearing.

It is your time to shine and tell the ALJ the 5 Hurdle story. It is better for the ALJ to hear it from you than anyone else. You are your best witness!

For more information contact Cavey & Barrett, and consider reading this informative free book about Social Security Disability.

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The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) may give you notice that a medical witness will be testifying at your Social Security Hearing. That is a signal to get a Social Security lawyer!

In my experience, notice that a medical witness is going to be called to testify by the ALJ is bad news. The medical witness is going to testify about your medical records, your disability, your complaints, and whether your medical complaints are believable.

Your lawyer will look at your medical records and determine why the ALJ wants to have a medical witness at the hearing. An experienced Social Security attorney will contact your treating physician and get the medical evidence necessary to address the ALJ’s concerns. Your attorney will also be prepared to question the medical expert.

Don’t try to question a doctor on your own. You won’t know why the ALJ asked the doctor the questions that were asked, what the doctor said, how the doctor’s answer impacts your case and what to ask the doctor. Don’t make a crucial mistake – there is a reason the ALJ wants medical testimony and it is generally not to grant your claim! For more help and information contact skilled attorney’s Cavey & Barrett and consult this free book on Social Security Disability.

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When you get the notice for your hearing, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) will generally tell you if vocational expert (VE) will be testifying.

You will be asked to fill out forms asking about your recent medical treatment, a medication list, and a work history form. Complete those forms accurately and send back immediately.

The ALJ will also ask you to acknowledge you will be at the hearing. Do that ASAP.

The notice that a VE will be present  means potential problems at Hurdle 4, Can You Return to Your Past Relevant Work and Hurdle 5, Other Work in the National Economy.

If you get a notice that a VE will be present, retain an attorney to represent you immediately. You will need an experienced Social Security attorney to cross-examine the VE. The VE must be given the proper questions about your past work history, your current restrictions, your exertional and non-exertional problems like side effects of medication and the impact of pain. You can’t count on the ALJ giving the VE the right question to win your case. The ALJ might ask the VE questions that can be used to deny your claim.

Sharon Barrett and Nancy Cavey know the importance of asking the right questions of the VE at your Social Security Hearing.

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