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Many look forward to their Social Security Disability hearing with a mixture of anticipation and dread. After all, you have waited months, or possibly even years, for this date to arrive.

You are finally able to see the light at the end of the tunnel and may begin receiving Social Security Disability benefits within a matter of months. The question is, what should you expect at your disability hearing? How can you prepare yourself?

Most importantly, what questions will the administrative law judge who is overseeing your hearing ask you during the hearing process?

If you have been working full-time but a medical condition has left you unable to work, you might be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits. If you are an older individual, you might be wondering if you can still apply for disability benefits or if you might as well go ahead and apply for your Social Security retirement benefits.

Scoliosis is the most common spinal deformity, affecting approximately 3% of the US population. Although it is typically diagnosed in the pre-adolescent and adolescent years, scoliosis can also occur as an infant or an older adult.

The severity of scoliosis varies from person to person. While the majority of individuals with scoliosis experience only minor effects on their health, some people have such significant cases that their spinal deformity affects their breathing and causes great pain.

This June don your purple and join the 5.7 million Americans who are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. Unlike many other conditions, Alzheimer’s disease has been on the increase for many years.

Individuals applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits often have several health conditions, or co-morbidities, that may factor into their overall health. For example, an individual who requires an amputation due to peripheral vascular disease, might also have uncontrolled diabetes.

For individuals who have become disabled and are unable to work as a result of their health condition, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits can be a financial lifesaver.

Unfortunately, for many people, the application and approval process can be excruciatingly long. Facing an uncertain amount of time without income can create additional anxiety for individuals already trying to get well.

Each year, millions of people apply for financial assistance from the Social Security Administration (SSA) due to a significant health condition that limits their ability to work. While many of these individuals are rightfully disabled and in need of help, only a third of claimants are approved at the initial level of the disability claim process.

Individuals who have been twice denied disability benefits by the Social Security Administration (SSA) during the initial phases of the application process may request an appeals hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).

During an appeals hearing, claimants are asked to answer questions about their health condition, as well as about their past employment history, acquired skills, and experience. In a majority of disability cases, the ALJ requests the presence of a vocational expert at the hearing.

The vast majority of Social Security Disability applicants are initially denied benefits. In fact, claimants have less than a 35% chance of approval during the early stages of the process. Individuals who have been denied benefits do not have to give up hope of obtaining the financial assistance that they so desperately need. Claimants have the option of filing an appeal with the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Due to the high volume of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) applications that cross the desk of the Social Security Administration (SSA), disability claimants often must wait a substantial amount of time for a decision on their claim.

Those who have already faced denials during the initial application and reconsideration process now await an appeals hearing in front of an administrative law judge (ALJ). The good news is that the majority of disability claims are won at this level.