If you file for disability benefits from the social security adminstration and get denied, there’s more than a fair chance that, at some point, you’ll have to go to a disability hearing.

Disability hearings are generally where most claimants will choose to seek representation (going to a hearing held by a federal judge and being unrepresented is never a good idea) simply because it maximizes the chances of being awarded disability benefits. Unfortunately, the disability hearing, which is the second appeal level in the SSA disability system, takes quite a long time to get to.

Whereas a disability application can usually be decided in a matter of months, and the first appeal (the request for reconsideration) can usually be decided in an even shorter time, the social security disability hearing, or SSI disability hearing, can two up to two years simply to get scheduled. For this reason, claimants may wish to think carefully about a number of issues that are related to the hearing process. The main issue, of course, is representation. However, another issue is whether or not to accept a video hearing (note: claimants can refuse to have their hearing held by video and may insist on an in-person hearing).