West Virginia residents who have applied for Social Security Disability benefits and have had their claims rejected may be able to appeal their cases all the way to the administrative hearing level. At this point, a judge will review the matter and determine whether there is enough evidence to approve a claim. The judge will typically review the evidence before the hearing starts, which means that the hearing itself shouldn’t take longer than a few minutes.
This is because there isn’t much to talk about aside from letting an applicant know that outcome of the appeal. However, it is possible that a judge will want to talk with expert witnesses or assess other information before making a ruling. The witness will talk with both the judge and the applicant’s attorney, and the conversation will focus on several variables related to an applicant’s medical condition.
Generally, a judge will want to know more about a person’s physical or mental condition and how it impacts his or her ability to find work. The judge will likely also want to know if there is work available that an applicant may be qualified and physically able to do. There is generally no way to predict how long a hearing may take if expert witness testimony is part of the decision-making process.
Those who have an inability to work because of a mental or physical problem may want to consider applying for SSD benefits. These benefits may help to pay medical expenses or cover other costs of living. If a person’s application is approved, it may be possible to seek the benefits retroactive to the date that it was first filed. In some cases, these benefits may be available retroactive to before the original application was filed.