08/17/2025
How to talk to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in your Social Security disability hearing:
1. Be respectful: Refer to them as "your honor" or "judge", answer their questions directly, do not monologue.
2. Stay calm and focus on telling the truth about how your symptoms impact your day to day life.
3. Do not interrupt the judge or talk over them.
The hearing is not nearly as stressful as some people think it is. In fact, it's usually boring. Try to stay focused and listen to the questions the judge or your representative asks you, and answer the questions directly.
For example, if the judge asks you how long you can sit for, don't answer with "it depends"
If the judge asks you about your pain levels, don't start talking about your mental health.
If you have any questions about the SSDI process or have an upcoming hearing and you're looking for a representative, give our office a call for a free case review. 877-204-8159