Social Security Disability • SSD, SSDI & SSI
Facing a Social Security Disability Hearing in San Jose? Don’t Go Alone.
A hearing gives you the chance to explain to a judge why you cannot work. Our disability team prepares people in San Jose and across California for their hearings, organizes the evidence, and appears with you before the judge so your story is clearly presented.
Our Firm
A Legal Team Experienced With Social Security Disability Hearings
Brian Goode
&
Justin Idiart
By the time you receive a hearing date, whether you live in San Jose or elsewhere in California, you have already been waiting a long time. You may feel anxious about talking to a judge, unsure what to say, and worried that one mistake could cost you the benefits you need.
At Idiart Law Group, we understand how important this moment is. For over 25 years, our attorneys and staff have represented injured and disabled people and guided them through complex processes like Social Security Disability hearings.
Our disability team knows what judges typically focus on, which questions they ask, and what evidence can make a difference. We work with you ahead of time so that when you appear at your hearing, you are prepared, supported, and not facing it alone.
Social Security Disability Benefits
Make the Most of Your Disability Hearing
A disability hearing is not like a criminal trial or a jury trial. There is no prosecutor, no jury, and the judge is there to evaluate your medical conditions, your work history, and how your symptoms affect you day to day.
Still, the hearing can feel intimidating if you do not know what to expect. The judge may ask detailed questions about your past jobs, your pain or mental health symptoms, and what you can and cannot do during a typical day in San Jose. A vocational witness may also be asked whether any jobs remain that you could do.
Idiart Law Group helps you make the most of this opportunity by:
- Reviewing your file so we know what the judge has already seen
- Identifying weak spots or gaps in the medical evidence
- Preparing you for common hearing questions
- Helping you clearly explain your symptoms and limitations in your own words
- Showing where a job witness's account leaves out your limits
Our goal is to help the judge understand the full picture of your health, your work history, and why you may meet Social Security’s rules for disability.
Free Review of Your Case Before the Hearing
For San Jose residents waiting on a hearing, or holding a date already, experienced help matters now. You must submit written evidence, or tell Social Security about it, no later than 5 business days before the hearing. Those months are the time to fill gaps in the record and rehearse your testimony.
Our disability team offers a free review of your case and upcoming hearing. We will:
- Look at your denial history and where your case stands now
- Review your medical treatment and identify missing records
- Discuss what the judge will likely focus on in your case
- Explain what to expect at the hearing, step by step
- Outline how we can help you prepare and represent you at the hearing.
Idiart Law Group handles Social Security Disability cases on a contingency fee basis. That means No Fee Until We Win. In most SSD cases, attorney fees are a percentage of your past-due benefits and must be approved by Social Security. If there is no recovery, you do not pay an attorney fee.
FREE SSD BENEFITS CONSULTATION
More than 8 Million Americans qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits.
HOW IT WORKS
Preparing for a Social Security Disability Hearing With Idiart Law Group
A strong hearing is the result of careful preparation, clear evidence, and honest testimony. Here is how we guide clients in San Jose and across our service area through the hearing stage.
Step 1
Review Your File and Hearing Status
We obtain and review your Social Security file, including prior applications, denial letters, medical records, and any forms you have completed. We confirm your hearing date, location, and assigned judge, then discuss the overall strategy for your San Jose disability hearing.
Step 2
Strengthen Your Medical and Vocational Evidence
We help gather updated medical records, test results, and treatment notes. When appropriate, we may request supportive statements from your doctors or other providers. We also review your work history and clarify how your past jobs were actually performed so the judge has an accurate picture of your abilities and limitations in San Jose.
Step 3
Prepare You for Hearing Questions
In calls before the hearing, we rehearse what a judge may ask about your symptoms, limits, daily routine, and work history. We also help you practice clear, honest answers so you feel prepared and confident for your hearing, whether you are in San Jose or elsewhere in California.
Step 4
Pursue the Claim
On the day of the hearing, we appear with you before the Administrative Law Judge. We help present your case, follow up with questions as needed, rebut vocational testimony, and argue why you may qualify for disability benefits under Social Security’s rules.
Step 1
Review Your File and Hearing Status
We obtain and review your Social Security file, including prior applications, denial letters, medical records, and any forms you have completed. We confirm your hearing date, location, and assigned judge, then discuss the overall strategy for your San Jose disability hearing.
Step 2
Strengthen Your Medical and Vocational Evidence
We help gather updated medical records, test results, and treatment notes. When appropriate, we may request supportive statements from your doctors or other providers. We also review your work history and clarify how your past jobs were actually performed so the judge has an accurate picture of your abilities and limitations in San Jose.
Step 3
Prepare You for Hearing Questions
In calls before the hearing, we rehearse what a judge may ask about your symptoms, limits, daily routine, and work history. We also help you practice clear, honest answers so you feel prepared and confident for your hearing, whether you are in San Jose or elsewhere in California.
Step 4
Pursue the Claim
On the day of the hearing, we appear with you before the Administrative Law Judge. We help present your case, follow up with questions as needed, rebut vocational testimony, and argue why you may qualify for disability benefits under Social Security’s rules.
Ways We Can Help
Car Accident
If a careless driver hurt you or someone you love, we’re here to step in. Our team deals with the insurance company, gathers the evidence, and fights to recover money for medical bills, lost wages, and the impact on your life.
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Social Security Disability
When a health condition keeps you from working, getting SSD benefits shouldn’t be another battle. We guide you through applications and appeals, handle the paperwork and deadlines, and work to prove your disability so you’re not facing the system alone.
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Slip & Fall
Falls on unsafe floors, stairs, or walkways can cause serious injuries. We hold negligent property owners accountable and pursue compensation for your medical treatment, lost income, and pain and suffering.
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We handle many types of cases, including:
- Personal Injury
- Car Accident
- Social Security Disability
- Catastrophic Injury
- Dog Bite
- Disability Application
- Disability Appeal
- Disability Hearing
- Pedestrian Accident
- Wrongful Death
- Medical Malpractice
- Nursing Home
- Slip & Fall
MEET OUR TEAM
Honest Care • Clear Advice • Smart Approach
Director of Social Security
Brian Goode
Personal Disability Attorney
Justin Idiart
Hearing Representative
Brandon Chapman
Hearing Representative
Breanne Hutchison
Hearing Representative
David Sanders
Customer Reviews
Trusted Attorneys for over 25 years
Social Security Disability in California, by the Numbers
See how many California claims Social Security approves and how long a hearing takes, from the agency's own figures.
See the California numbersSan Jose Disability Hearing Questions
Who is the judge at a Social Security disability hearing?
An administrative law judge. An administrative law judge is a judge who works for Social Security and decides appeals. You reach this stage after reconsideration is denied, and you have 60 days to ask for the hearing. The judge explains the issues and may question you and any witnesses under oath. Our disability team appears with you before the judge and presents your San Jose case.
Will a vocational witness be at my hearing, and what do they do?
There may be one. The judge may also ask a medical or vocational witness to testify. That witness may be asked whether work exists that you could still do. Social Security looks at your medical conditions, age, education, past work and skills. If that testimony overlooks your real limits, it needs an answer at the hearing. Our disability team prepares for it in advance and questions the witness when needed.
Do hearings approve more claims than first applications in California?
In fiscal year 2026, yes. About 35 percent of first California applications were approved. Hearing results ran higher: about 60 percent, or 14,187 approvals in 23,469 decisions, summed across the 17 California hearing offices in Social Security's data, against about 58 percent nationwide. These totals mix every type of claim, so they cannot forecast yours. Our disability team uses the months before your hearing to make your record as complete as it can be.
What if I miss the deadline to ask for a hearing?
It can end your appeal. Social Security warns that if you miss the deadline to request a hearing without a good reason, the judge may dismiss your appeal. You may also lose your right to any further review. You can ask Social Security in writing for more time and explain why you were late. Do not count on an extension. If your 60 days are running out, call or text (855) 772-6969 today.
When should I bring in a representative before my hearing?
As early as possible. For hearings, Social Security recommends appointing a representative as early as possible, so that person has time to review your file. Social Security does not require a representative. You have the right to appoint one if you want help. Waiting until the last weeks leaves little room before the evidence deadline, 5 business days before the hearing. Our disability team can step in at any stage of your San Jose claim.
Idiart Law Group in San Jose
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