I live in Michigan. Diagnosis is Bipolar, depression, anxiety, panic attacks and migraines... I had my hearing this past Monday, June 3. I applied last Sept.
I am a nervous wreck awaiting this decision. I have been reading on this site about different cases and the weight of the Vocational Experts opinion... I would love some feedback on people who have gone through similar hearings..
My judge was kind and did not interrupt me although I had heard he is notorious for cutting people off when speaking. He did not do so to me. I don't know if that is a good sign or not. He asked plenty of questions having me go into full detail about my depressive and manic episodes, my panic attacks and migraines symptoms etc... He had commented in the very beginning about how I have barely worked, although I am now 24 yrs old. That I have only worked barely a few months at a time before losing a job... repeatedly...
When he was done questioning me he went to the vocational expert and asked if I could do any of my past work with my current condition(s) she said "NO" but she listed 3 jobs for his first and only hypothetical question which was assuming if I got better could I work. I don't know if this is going to effect me in the present the fact she listed anything, even if it is only if I get better. He asked her how many days of work I could miss and when she said 2 days a month after a 3 month period... He then made some sort of comment on how I probably couldn't stay within the allotted amount of days I could miss per year with my present symptoms.
My lawyer said I did great it went as well as it could have.... She said I was very good at describing my conditions and disorder to him.
I have been broke and struggling since the start of this as many of you have done as well. I just want it to be over because I do not have the strength to keep doing this crap much longer. It is a very biased system. Especially when you see people who absolutely do NOT deserve it getting awarded leaving ppl like us in the dust. Forgetting about us. I really think it went well- my hearing however I just cant shake that hypothetical question the VE answered about if I got better. Any thoughts on this, my case would be appreciated. Thank you and god bless!
