Direct answer
What happens at an SSDI hearing?
At an SSDI hearing, an Administrative Law Judge questions the claimant under oath about their medical condition, work history, and daily activities, and usually calls a vocational expert to testify about whether any jobs exist that the claimant could still perform.
SSDI hearings are non-adversarial and informal compared to court trials, but the record from this stage is what appellate levels rely on. Many claimants appear with a representative or attorney, and most hearings today are held by video or phone.
Sourced from ssa.gov — see citations below.
Who is in the room?
The Administrative Law Judge, the claimant, the claimant's representative (if any), often a vocational expert, and sometimes a medical expert.
What is asked?
Questions about medical treatment, symptoms, past work, and daily activities.
When is the decision issued?
Written decisions are typically issued 1-3 months after the hearing.
Topics
Sources
Every figure and rule on this page is drawn from official SSA publications. Verify at the links below.
- SSA — The Appeals Process (ssa.gov)