Tallahassee, FL. For those of you who have worked and waited on getting a hearing for social security disability benefits, it may come as a surprise when you get in the mail a form that details something called a Video Teleconference (VTC) . The Social Security Administration (SSA) has recently experienced a large influx of applications, and as a result wait times have soared. Many clients call our office eagerly asking, “When will I be scheduled for a hearing?” but the answer is typically exactly what someone in need of disability benefits doesn’t want to hear. In Tallahassee, the average wait time for a hearing is between and 18 and 19 months. There are a few things a disability law firm can do to expedite your hearing, but only in certain uncommon circumstances, can a lawyer do to speed up your case more than a couple months faster than average.
In order to combat this heavy case load and the long wait time, SSA has begun to implement video teleconferences. The program uses a secure video service which allows judges to hear cases that would otherwise take another few months to get to hearing. In fact, when a VTC hearing is not authorized it can add up to an additional 1-2 months before it can be scheduled if a claimant objects to a VTC. It may seem impersonal for someone who has waited over a year for their hearing, but Judges still have full access to all of the information pertinent to your case, and the judge will be able to conduct a hearing as he would in a face-to-face encounter.
So, here are the facts:
Utilizing the video service may reduce your wait time – and the wait time of other applicants in the long run. A video hearing is one of the best ways to reduce this waiting period, so that you can focus on getting better.
The service may be more convenient for the judge, but it can also be much more convenient for you. Video hearings can take place virtually anywhere, and the location of the hearing may be much more convenient for you.
At the Tallahassee Law Office of Matt Liebenhaut, we recommend this service to you. Social Security Disability lawyer Matt Liebenhaut has handled many cases by VTC, and he is one of the few Social Security Disability lawyers in Tallahassee who has become equally accomplished in presenting, and winning, cases in-person or by VTC. We are dedicated and passionate about helping you obtain the most you can receive in benefits, and one of the ways to insure that you can receive these quicker is by authorizing a video hearing. Call today for a free case evaluation from a Tallahassee Social Security Disability lawyer.