If you lose your hearing, don't give up! I have observed that most cases that are lost are still good cases. Sometimes a client loses because s/he need a lawyer and did not realize, met with an ALJ who simply did not like the case or the client, or did not have all the evidence needed. Many cases can still be won after losing!

I represent clients who have lost their hearings. If you have lost your hearing and did not have a lawyer, or if the lawyer does not take cases to the Appeals Council or to Federal District Court, please call me at (503) 620-3171. There is no charge for a consultation.

You should call a lawyer right away. Strict deadlines apply to your appealing and unfavorable decision and good cases can still be lost for missing a deadline after losing.

Often, I advise my clients who have lost to take the decision straight to Vocational Rehabilitation and to request vocational assistance. This might help the client find work, or, more typically, through formal evaluations and testing, help show why the client cannot work.

If you lose your hearing, the next phase is Appeals Council Review. Usually, this only affirms the bad ALJ decision. The Appeals Council refers to this as "declining to review." When you receive a bad Appeals Council decision, again don't give up. You still have a good chance of getting relief in Federal District Court, the next level of appeal. Appeals Council decisions also have strict deadlines for appealing to Federal Court. So call a lawyer right away to avoid missing a deadline and losing a good case as a result.

Call my firm at (503) 620-3171 or contact us online for a free consultation.