Testifying About Stress at Your Tampa Social Security Disability Hearing

Most Social Security disability claims are won at the hearing level, and claimants who appeal their case through this level are awarded benefits more often than not. The hearing with the administrative law judge will be the first opportunity for the Social Security Administration to assess your credibility in person, and your testimony at the hearing is very important. Your Tampa Social Security disability lawyer will prepare you ahead of time by letting you know what sorts of questions to expect and how best to answer them.

The key to giving good testimony at your Tampa Social Security disability hearing is using plenty of detail. A mere recitation of your doctor’s diagnosis is not enough. The judge wants to hear how your specific symptoms affect your activities of daily living.

Your testimony will be particularly important if you claim that mental symptoms such as stress contribute to your inability to work. The judge’s questions are mostly designed to get you to start talking, so speak freely about your symptoms and provide detail about (for example) what you can do on a good day versus a bad day.

What You’ll Be Asked

The judge may ask you questions about what symptoms you have when you are under stress. Some of those symptoms may include:

• Shaking or trembling
• Rapid heartbeat
• Sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling faint or unsteady
• Feeling stomachache or nausea
• Tingling
• Hot flashes or chills
• Fear of going crazy or doing something uncontrolled
• Terror or a feeling of impending doom
• Panic
• “Fight or flight” response

The judge will also want to know what it is about work that gives you stress. Some common work elements that cause claimants stress are:

• Need to work with speed and precision
• Meeting deadlines or working with a schedule
• Exercising independent judgment or making decisions
• Working with other people (either members of the public, supervisors, or coworkers)
• Fear of failure

If you have any physical or mental condition that prevents you from being able to work, you may be eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits. For a free evaluation, please contact Tampa Social Security disability lawyer Garry Miracle by filling out the claim evaluation form or calling the phone number at the top of this page.