Q: ALJ granted disability hearing postponement but I need more time to find new lawyer and build more medical records.
My lawyer dropped me as a client well actually their assistant which seemed odd as I never even once got to speak to the actual lawyer. The assistant dropped me as a client, saying I wasn't trying to get medical records but I could not work, had no insurance and he just couldn't understand.
I called the ALJ's office and explained my situation to them and within a week they called me back to let me know that they were going to grant me a postponement on the disability hearing but they didn't say how long. When I got the papers in the mail, it was only for 3 months. I live in a small town, few lawyers here, no luck finding one wanting to take my SSI case, need to look in a nearby larger city. Need more time to build more medical records. My question is, how likely is it that the ALJ would grant a 2nd postponement?
I hate delaying it but I want the best possible chance of winning when I get my chance at winning my disability case. I am also now seeing 3 Drs, 2 for mental.
A: You have Internet access; presumably you have a telephone. There is no reason on earth you need more than three months to find an attorney to take your case (if it is a valid case). So in my opinion the ALJ will not grant a further continuance.
A:
Suggest you contact Florida Rural Legal Services --they should at least be able to direct you to medical assistance (though if you have doctors that suggests you are now on Medical Assistance. At a minimum the judge would need a note from the doctors explaining that you only recently became eligible for medical asssistance,that your mental issues have delayed your ability to handle your case, and that they would like to evaluate you further.
Or get a disabiltiy note stating a)their diagnosis b) that this prevents you from working at even a light work job for 40 hours a week reliably, c) that it has lasted or will last for 12 months or more.
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