If your claim has been denied twice on paper by claims workers who reviewed your claim at the Application and Reconsideration levels, the Administrative Law Judge Hearing is your opportunity to explain in your own words how your feel, and why you are unable to work. This is especially important in cases where the symptoms of the illness or disability are not obvious, such as when the claimant is suffering from chronic and disabling pain.

We have obtained favorable disability decisions from Administrative Law Judges in Springfield and in Hartford, including "on the record" decisions. An "on the record" (OTR) decision means that our client did not have to appear for a hearing, because their case was decided on the strength of the medical records in their file.

To appeal your claim to an ALJ, we can file SSA Form 501 for you, and prepare you and your case for your hearing.

How often does the ALJ assigned to your case award benefits? As you can see in the charts, many disabled workers who take their claims all the way to a hearing are found to be medically disabled, and eligible for disability benefits. This high rate of allowances is possible because a live judge is able to see you, and hear you explain why you cannot work. In many cases, we will ask a client to bring family members or another person who knows about how the disability has affected everyday life, and the ability to work. We will help you and your witnesses prepare the important testimony about your symptoms and activities of daily living.

Springfield Hearing Office: The hearing office for people who live in Western Massachusetts
(cases filed in District Offices in Springfield, Holyoke and Greenfield) is located at:
Suite 450 - 1441 Main Street, Springfield, Massachusetts 01103
Telephone: (866) 964-5058

Judge	Total Claims	Claims Decided	Claims Awarded	Claims Denied	Fully Favor- able	Partly Favor- able	% of Claims ALLOWED	Claims DENIED	Dismis-sed
Breton, Michael P	541	469	243	226	218	25	44.9%	41.8%	13.3%
Cooperman, Leonard	670	558	469	89	134	335	70.0%	13.3%	16.7%
Loucas, Penny	408	332	65	267	49	16	15.9%	65.4%	18.6%
Martinelli, Peter J	324	292	115	177	91	24	35.5%	54.6%	9.9%
Masengill, Addison C	842	734	467	267	340	127	55.5%	31.7%	12.8%
Stolfo, Judith M	553	481	352	129	334	18	63.7%	23.3%	13.0%

Hartford Hearing Office. The Hartford hearing office for people who live in Northern Connecticut
(Enfield and Somers residents, and all cases filed in District Offices in Hartford, East Hartford, Meridan, Middletown, New Britain, Bristol, New London, Norwich,Torrington; Waterbury; Willimantic) is located at: William R. Cotter Federal Building, 135 High Street, Room 331, Hartford, Connecticut 06103-1193
Telephone:(866) 931-2878

Judge	Total Claims	Claims Decided	Claims Awarded	Claims Denied	Fully Favor- able	Partly Favor- able	% of Claims ALLOWED	Claims DENIED	Dismis- sed
Alger, Ryan A	581	523	364	159	330	34	62.7%	27.4%	10.0%
Davis, Kelly	696	621	470	151	457	13	67.5%	21.7%	12.1%
Dolan, William J	630	550	420	130	399	21	66.7%	20.6%	12.7%
Griswold, Kim K	802	694	468	226	437	31	58.4%	28.2%	13.5%
Heiser, Marlene W	526	455	252	203	218	34	47.9%	38.6%	13.5%
Hogan, Henry J	604	517	333	184	317	16	55.1%	30.5%	14.4%
Sax, Carol A	7	7	3	4	3	0	42.9%	57.1%	0.0%
Thomas, James E	393	335	197	138	184	13	50.1%	35.1%	14.8%

We go over your work experience and your education to prepare for your hearing, along with your testimony about your daily life, your medical history, and your physical and mental abilities. All of this information is carefully prepared, so that when we get to the hearing room, the Judge can clearly see how your case fits in with Social Security regulations.

Peter J. Martinelli, who served as Chief Administrative Law Judge in the Springfield hearings office, explained to Congress how the ALJ wears three hats:

1. a Judge who provides full and fair hearings;
2. a person who assists the claimants by developing the record and their cases, even if they are represented; and,
3. a trustee for the Social Security Trust and General Tax Funds.

Judge Martinelli pointed out that "the last two duties require a judge to, in essence, represent opposing sides." The best way to help an ALJ decide that you deserve your benefits is to provide the Judge with the medical evidence he or she needs to make a good disability decision.

Social Security may hire a vocational expert to come to your hearing. The vocational expert listens to all of this testimony, and then gives an opinion about whether a disability makes it too difficult for a person to go to work. Vocational Experts provide important evidence in the case that must fit with what you can or cannot do. Vocational Expert Testimony at the Hearing Level.

The goal is to obtain a Fully Favorable Decision on your claim. We always try to obtain an On the Record decision whenever possible. We can help you win your ALJ hearing. It's important to start preparing now. Preparing for your hearing involves a full review of how you feel, and how your disability has affected you. Many people who suffer from pain and chronic illness have trouble explaining how they feel. It is not unusual for disabled people to have difficulty or even reluctance in describing their symptoms. We explain how the Social Security law and regulations apply to your specific case. Call us today for a free case evaluation: (413) 567-5600.

COMPASSION - COMMITMENT - EXPERIENCE - RESULTS
Get the Disability Decision You Need, and the Benefits You Have Earned - Don’t Go It Alone

• Saving Steps in the Social Security Claims Process
• Application for Benefits
• Reconsideration Level
• Administrative Law Judge Level


• Appeals Council Level
• Federal Court
• Understanding Your Disability Benefits Award