Discussing Your Medical Care at the Hearing

The administrative law judge does not have expect you to have the same type of medical knowledge as a doctor; however, because you have seen doctors for your conditions, the judges often do ask about your understanding of your condition and the treatment you received. One thing you can testify about is the side effects, if any, of prescribed medication. Many claimants take significant amounts of prescription drugs with multiple side effects that would have a negative impact on the person’s ability to regularly perform work activity. It’s not uncommon for a witness to cry at a social security disability hearing assuming however, the judges see this quite a bit and it often does not have a significant impact. This is your opportunity to tell about your conditions and if crying can be avoided, please do so.