Our Services
Existing Claim Help
Resources
This Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing preparation guide can help you be ready for and feel calmer about your disability hearing.
You’ll learn:
Your words don’t need to be perfect. Your goal is to give clear, honest answers.
We made this guide simple so you can prepare even if you are exhausted or in pain.
An ALJ hearing is your chance to explain your situation in your own words. The judge has your file and will ask questions to fill in gaps. They’re trying to understand what you can do, day after day, not just on a good day.
This isn’t like a trial on TV. You’re not on trial. Think of it as a structured conversation about how your health affects your ability to work consistently.
At your hearing, there will be the administrative judge, a hearing reporter who records the hearing, you, and your disability representative, if you have one.
Some hearings also include experts, such as a vocational expert who talks about jobs and work demands or a medical expert who discusses the medical records in your file. If your notice lists any of these abbreviations, that’s normal. It means those experts may be at the hearing.
The exact order can change a bit, but most ALJ hearings follow this pattern. Typically, it will flow like this:
You don’t need a perfect timeline, but you will need a clear outline of your work history, medical care and treatment, and daily functioning.
If you’re not sure about a date, give your best estimate, and say it’s an estimate. You can say, “I don’t remember the exact month, but it was around spring 2023.”
If you don’t know a date, give a range rather than guessing.
Need help getting organized? Advocate’s disability experts are here for you.
We can review your case, spot gaps in medical evidence, and help you prepare for the ALJ hearing.
Check your SSDI eligibility in a few minutes.
No cost to start.
Talk with our team about your situation. We'll walk you through what comes next.
Get EvaluationSee what documents you need. We'll help you get everything in place.
Get EvaluationNot sure what that SSA letter means? We can review it with you.
Get EvaluationGet support from a team that handles the paperwork and follows through.
Get EvaluationBring what you need to be organized and comfortable at your hearing. Only bring what you can manage, though. Your entire file may be heavy and cumbersome.
Suggested items:
Plan your transportation so you’ll arrive early. Give yourself extra time in case you’re in pain or feeling anxious the day of the hearing.
Remote hearings by phone or video are common. If your hearing will be remote, set up a space in advance to reduce stress. Choose a quiet space, ideally near an outlet to charge your phone or laptop if needed. Use headphones if they help you hear better.
If it’s a video hearing, test your computer’s connection, sound, and camera angle beforehand. Make sure your face is easy to see.
On the day of the hearing, let others in your space know you need privacy to reduce interruptions. Make sure your phone and computer are charged.
It’s a good idea to have a backup plan, like the phone number to call if the video doesn’t work well. If the call drops, tell the judge right away when you reconnect. If you can’t hear, tell the judge right away.
The easiest way to prepare is to understand what the judge is trying to learn.
For each question below, we explain what the judge needs to know and the best way to answer. The questions are organized by categories.
Example: “I stopped working because my back pain made it hard to stand and lift. I started missing shifts and could not keep up.”
The judge will ask about your activities of daily living (ADLs), such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, driving, personal care, and hobbies. These questions help the judge understand how you function from day to day. Try to avoid yes-or-no answers. Describe your tasks in detail.
Example: “I can microwave meals but I can’t stand long enough to cook from scratch.”
Example: “I can wipe counters for about five minutes, then my shoulder burns and I need to rest.”
Example: “I drive short trips about once a week. Longer drives make my pain flare and then I need to rest.”
Example: “I use a cart for support when I go grocery shopping. I also go with someone because I cannot carry heavy bags without pain.”
The judge will ask about your medical conditions, symptoms, and care. This helps them understand the documents in your file and how they show your daily functioning.
“What symptoms bother you the most?”
Examples: “I could not afford visits for a while.” “Transportation was a problem.” “Depression made it hard to keep appointments.”
This is the heart of the hearing. The judge needs specifics about what you can do, how long you can do it, and what happens when you try.
Example: “I can sit about 20 minutes before my pain is too much. Then I need to stand and stretch for about 10 minutes.”
Example: “I can stand about 10 minutes before my back spasms. Then I need to sit for 20 to 30 minutes.”
Example: “I can walk about one block on a good day, then my leg goes numb and I have to stop.”
Example: “I can grip for a few minutes, then my hands tingle and I drop things.”
Example: “I can focus for about 15 minutes, then I lose track and need a break.”
Example: “If I push through symptom flares, the next day I’m in bed most of the day.”
Your symptoms likely vary from day to day, or possibly from hour to hour. The judge needs a picture of what an average week or month is like for you.
A good day doesn’t mean a workday. Plus, you may still have limitations on a good day. Be honest and explain what triggers your bad days and what changes on those days.
Example: “In an average week, I have two better days and five bad days.”
Example: “On bad days I can get to the bathroom and make a quick meal, but then I need to lie down.”
Example: “Bad days often happen after I stand too long or try to do several chores.”
Check your SSDI eligibility in a few minutes.
No cost to start.
Talk with our team about your situation. We'll walk you through what comes next.
Get EvaluationSee what documents you need. We'll help you get everything in place.
Get EvaluationNot sure what that SSA letter means? We can review it with you.
Get EvaluationGet support from a team that handles the paperwork and follows through.
Get EvaluationYou don’t need long answers to explain your situation. Here are some tips for clear, honest answers.
First, listen to the full question and pause before answering. Then, only answer what was asked. If you don’t understand, say so. You can say, “I didn’t understand the question. Please repeat or rephrase it?”
When you answer, don’t exaggerate or minimize. Without being dramatic, be as specific as possible. For example, say, “I can walk about one block on a good day” rather than “I can’t walk at all” if that’s not true.
If you realize you made an error in your response, correct yourself calmly.
Some words cause confusion because they’re too vague. Try not to use words like “always, never, fine,or manageable.”
Be as specific as possible. If you’re not 100% sure how many breaks you need a day or how long you can do a task, it’s okay to say, “about 10.”
A vocational expert gives impartial testimony about jobs that relate to your work history. They will answer questions about job demands. The judge might ask them if a person with similar limitations could do jobs from your past or other related jobs.
A key part of their testimony is answering questions about hypothetical situations, or what-if scenarios.
Example: “If a person needs extra breaks and misses two days a month, could they still do job X.”
Don’t argue with the expert, just be honest about your limits.
The expert may describe your past jobs in general ways. Sometimes their descriptions won’t match what you actually did. If the judge asks you to explain your duties, briefly give specifics.
Example: “My title was cashier, but I also stocked shelves and lifted boxes.”
A medical expert reviews your medical records and answers technical questions about evidence in your file. They don’t examine you. They discuss things like the severity of a condition and how the records show your limitations. A medical expert is never judging you as a person.
If your hearing notice lists VE or ME, a vocational or medical expert may testify. If you’re unsure about a label, it’s okay to ask the local office or your disability representative to explain it.
An ALJ hearing lasts 30 minutes to an hour. Practicing your responses will help you feel more confident and help you tell the judge about your limitations.
This short practice session can help you prepare short, clear answers. It covers many of the common questions in 15 minutes. Time your answers or ask someone to help you.
15-Minute Practice
Don’t try to answer perfectly or memorize this script. Just use your own words. These examples show how to structure answers.
“My main conditions are [condition] and [condition]. My biggest problems are [symptom] and [symptom]. I can’t work a regular schedule because I can’t stay on my feet or focus for long, and I need frequent breaks. If I push through, I suffer the next day.”
“I wake up and am already in pain. I can take care of myself, but I need extra time to get ready. I need to rest after small tasks. For example, after one chore, I have to sit or lie down. By afternoon I’m usually worn out and I need help with shopping and heavier tasks.”
“In an average week, I have __ better days and __ bad days. On better days, I can do a few tasks in a row, with breaks. On bad days, I mostly stay in bed and I can’t do errands or go to appointments.”
“I can sit about __ minutes before [pain/numbness/anxiety] builds up. Then I have to change position and take a break for __ minutes. If I sit longer, the symptoms flare and I can’t function the rest of the day.”
You don’t need special clothing for your hearing, but you’ll feel better in clean and comfortable clothes. Consider wearing layers to account for temperature differences between inside and outside.
When you answer, be calm and speak slowly. As mentioned above, it’s okay to pause before you answer.
If you need to stand, stretch, or shift positions, say so. You can also ask for a short break if you need one.
It’s common to feel emotional at hearings. It’s hard to talk about pain and limitations.
If you’re worried about freezing up or crying, remember that no one is judging you. If you get emotional, ask for a moment. Take some deep breaths. Have a drink of water.
If you lose track of the conversation, ask the judge to repeat the question. If you’re confused about the question, ask them to say it another way.
Most people get a written decision within three months, but response time depends on the local office’s workload.
If you have a representative, they can explain the decision and your next steps. If you are denied again, you can appeal again.
If you want help preparing your case, Advocate can guide you and help you practice.
Our disability experts understand what the judge needs to know.
[Insert large CTA block here]
Judges are not trying to trick you. Yet, questions can be confusing when you are under stress. If a question is unclear, ask the judge to repeat or rephrase it.
You can bring a disability representative. You can also call a witness, but you’ll need to inform the court. Ask your disability expert about this first.
That’s common, just give your best estimate and say it’s an estimate. A season and year is often enough.
You can, but it’s better to pair numbers with what you can and can’t do. For example, say, “When my pain is at an eight, I can’t stand longer than five minutes.”
Be honest. Explain how often you can do it, how long it lasts, and then what you need for recovery.
Listen carefully. The VE answers hypothetical questions. Your role is to clearly describe your limits, with examples of times you need breaks, have flare-ups, and miss work days.
Yes, but it must be submitted at least five days before the hearing. If you have new medical visits, tests, or diagnoses, tell your disability representative right away, or contact the hearing office to learn about the process.
Call the hearing office as soon as you can, or your case can be dismissed. Explain the serious reason that caused you to miss the hearing and ask for a new hearing date.
Yes. Many hearings are by phone or video.
You can have an attorney or a non-attorney representative. Both disability experts can help you understand the Social Security process and present your situation to the judge.
Let us prepare your application so you're not managing the paperwork alone.
Get EvaluationConnect with an Advocate specialist who's with you from day one.
Get EvaluationBegin your claim with a team that knows the SSA process inside and out.
Get Evaluation