Social Security hearing date wait time for disabled adult child (DAC) claim - how to prepare my anxious daughter

I went through this with my son last year. The wait time for an ALJ hearing was about 7 months from when we requested it, but this varies by location. Some hearing offices have longer backlogs than others. Regarding the DAC benefits - if your daughter qualifies for SSDI on her own record AND can prove her disability began before age 22, then yes, she can receive DAC benefits on her father's record instead of her own (which is usually higher). This will all be part of the same disability determination process. For the hearing itself, your attorney should handle most of the talking. The judge will likely ask your daughter some basic questions about her daily activities and limitations, but nothing too complex. Be honest with the attorney about her communication issues so they can request appropriate accommodations. Some judges are very understanding of these situations and will direct most questions to you or the attorney. Make sure your attorney has ALL medical documentation of her chromosomal deletion and how it impacts her functioning. The key is demonstrating how her condition limits her ability to work.

my cousin got denied twice for her autism then got approved at the hearing. took like 9 months to get the hearing date tho. the waiting is the worst part honestly

The ALJ hearing wait times are RIDICULOUS right now!! My daughter's took 11 months to schedule after we requested it. The whole system is broken and they deny almost EVERYONE the first two times. It's like SSA policy to make disabled people jump through hoops. Your attorney should be handling most of the communication. My daughter has severe anxiety too and we told the judge at the beginning that she has difficulty communicating. The judge was actually pretty understanding and directed most questions to me and the attorney. Bring LOTS of documentation to the hearing - especially anything showing how her condition impacts daily functioning. SSA cares more about functional limitations than diagnoses. And yes, DAC benefits should be part of this same case IF she qualifies for disability on her own record first. Good luck - it's a frustrating process but worth fighting!

Just wanted to say I feel for you and your daughter. The waiting and uncertainty is so stressful. My nephew has Down syndrome and went through this whole process last year. Hang in there!

If you're having trouble getting through to SSA to check on your hearing status or ask questions, I found a service called Claimyr that helped me skip the hold times. I was constantly getting disconnected after waiting for hours, which was making my anxiety worse. I used their service at claimyr.com and got through to a real person at SSA in about 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Regarding the hearing, my son has autism and the judge mostly asked him simple questions about his daily routine and what he struggles with. The vocational expert and medical expert did most of the talking. Our hearing was by video conference which actually helped my son feel less anxious than having to go to a formal courtroom setting.

my daughter has a genetic disorder too and we had our hearing last month after waiting 8 months. she got approved! the judge was super nice and understood that she couldn't answer complicated questions. mostly asked about what she does all day and what she finds difficult. our lawyer told her she could say 'i don't know' if she didn't understand something. maybe practice some basic questions with your daughter so she feels more prepared?

Regarding preparing your daughter for the hearing: 1. Request accommodations in advance - your attorney should file this request 2. Practice simple questions about daily activities but don't over-rehearse (judges can tell) 3. If possible, show the judge documentation of her communication difficulties from a psychologist or doctor 4. Consider requesting a video hearing if in-person would be too stressful 5. You can request a female judge, though this may further delay your hearing date Remember that the judge will likely have a medical expert and vocational expert present who will do much of the technical testimony. Your daughter will primarily need to answer questions about her daily life and limitations. One important tip: make sure your attorney emphasizes that your daughter's presentation on her 'best day' is not representative of her typical functioning. People with intellectual disabilities often mask their difficulties in formal settings through learned coping mechanisms.

The national average wait time for an ALJ hearing is currently around 8-10 months, though some offices are faster and others significantly slower. You can check the average processing time for your specific hearing office on SSA's website. Regarding the DAC benefits: This is actually a common misunderstanding. If your daughter meets the criteria for disability under SSA rules, and her disability began before age 22, she may be eligible for DAC benefits on her father's record regardless of whether she qualifies for SSDI on her own record (which would require sufficient work credits). Since her father is already receiving SSDI, she could potentially receive up to 50% of his Primary Insurance Amount as a DAC benefit. For the hearing preparation, your attorney should request specific accommodations based on your daughter's condition. The judge is required to make reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This might include: 1. Having you present to help explain or rephrase questions 2. Allowing written responses if verbal communication is difficult 3. Scheduling breaks during the hearing if needed 4. Using simple, direct language and questions Make sure all medical records clearly document her communication difficulties so these accommodation requests are supported by evidence.