At your hearing, the judge will ask you about your physical ability to walk, lift heavy objects, stand, etc. Be prepared to honestly answer how long you can do any of these activities.
It is a good idea to answer the judge’s questions the same way you would if a friend were asking them. If a friend asks you how far you are able to walk, you will probably think of a few examples of places you have walked to recently, how difficult the trip was for you and whether you had to stop at any point, so be prepared to describe your abilities in the same way.
Don’t think of the hearing like a court hearing you see on television. In court, representatives often advise their clients not to volunteer any information or give out details that aren’t directly part of the question asked, because such details could be harmful to their case. Social Security hearings do not work this way; it is better to volunteer more information to give the judge the best impression to decide on your case. Consider these two answers to the question “How far can you walk?”
Answer A: “Two blocks.”
Answer B: “Judge, I can’t make it more than a couple blocks without stopping somewhere to rest. I tried walking a block and a half the other day, but before long I had to start limping because my back hurt so much. I could barely carry the bread I bought back to my home, and I had stop three more times on the way back. When I got home I laid down in my recliner chair as soon as I could because I couldn’t stand anymore.”
Answer B provides the judge much more detail and information than Answer A, and gives the judge a much clearer illustration of the claimant's situation.