How a disability case hearing goes differs from person to person. This is because everyone has a unique medical history. The approval rates in every state vary, which impact when you will receive your benefits.
Arkansas National Average Application Approval Rate
The Social Security Disability benefits application process has three steps: Filling out the initial application, reconsideration to ensure all information is accurate, and the hearing. The following table shows the national average approval rate in the initial stage:
| Initial Application | Reconsideration | Hearing | |
| Arkansas | 38.4% | 14.7% | 48.6% |
| National Average | 38.9% | 15.0% | 54.0% |
Arkansas Application Approval Rate
| Application Approval Rate | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Arkansas | 31.6% | 31.3% | 32.1% | 33.3% | 33.5% | 35.1% | 35.5% | 38.4% | 38.4% |
| National Average | 32.7% | 33.1% | 33.7% | 34.7% | 35.6% | 37.8% | 38.4% | 37.9% | 38.9% |
Following are some tips on how to increase your chances of winning a Social Security disability hearing case:
Know Your Rights
A disability case is conducted at the Office of Hearings Operations (OHO). You will receive a notice with the location, date, and time of your hearing. It is the duty of the state to notify you 75 days before your hearing so you can gather all the necessary documents. However, if the notice is delayed, you have the right to ask for more days.
Hire a Disability Lawyer in Arkansas
Having a disability lawyer working on your case will do wonders for you. As a professional, they know how to represent you and will give you directions on how to appeal your case. You are more likely to win with a lawyer by your side than fighting on your own.
Write a Brief
A brief is a short personal document that outlines the important evidence in your case. It should contain the following:
- Dates of when your disability began, when you were last insured, and any claim you filed
- All your medical conditions
- A statement that explains how your disability stops you from working
Bringing Witnesses
Family and friends are not allowed to act as a witness during an SSDI hearing. However, if your testimony relies on them, for example, you were impaired due to a manic episode and can’t recall the events of a particular date, they can be added to your case.
There is no place for pride in the courtroom when you are there for your disability case hearing. While you shouldn’t exaggerate your disability or downplay it, it is important to be specific about how it prevents you from working. No one in the courtroom will judge you. They are there to determine whether you are truly suffering or not. The wrong word could end up in you losing the case.
We understand how overwhelming it can be to present your case in a courtroom, so we recommend hiring a disability lawyer in Arkansas to help you with it. You can get in touch with us by contacting the Law Offices of Lisa Douglas. We have handled such cases with great care and professionalism. Fill out the form here, and a lawyer will get back to you with details regarding your case. For more information, call (501) 798-0004.
