You do not need to dress in your Sunday best to go to your Social Security hearing. Wear clothes that are comfortable that show what you wear on a typical day. That means that you should not put on a suit or your best dress to go see the Social Security judge. Instead, you want the Administrative Law Judge to see you the way you look every day. You want them to get a good understanding of how you look each day of your life as you deal with your disability.
At the same time, you need to show some respect for the Social Security judge. Here is a list of some things you do not want to wear at your Social Security hearing:
1. lots of rings, necklaces, earrings, or bracelets (these can distract the judge)
2. your Rolex….flashy jewelry can send the wrong message
3. bright colored clothes
4. cutoff jeans
You do not want to give the Social Security judge a false impression about yourself. Sometimes, dressing up makes us look healthier than we are. The day of your Social Security hearing is not the day to cover up your disabilities.
You want the judge to see how it really is for you. Wearing what you wear on a normal day helps you feel like yourself. It may also help explain something to the judge. For example, you may only wear slip on shoes (without laces), because you cannot bend over to tie your shoes. Use that as an example you tell the judge about at your hearing to explain your problems. Do not cover things up by dressing up….look like you do every day, and you will be ok.
John Tucker represents people in Social Security Disability and SSI claims throughout Florida. Call (866) 282-5260 for a free consultation about your claim.
i think this was a little helpful, but i can’t find out if i should wear my wig or not. i usually wear it when i go out to the doctor or take my kids to school. i do not wear it at home because it is uncomfortable. i just wanted to let you know my opinion. my hearing is tomorrow morning. my lawyer says to dress like i do around the huuse, but that wouldn’t be respectful from what i have read. i like to be comfortable and i don’t wear nice clothes at home, sometimes i just wear my gown and housecoat.
what did you wear? would have left the wig off for sure! did you win? i hope you did. i have my hearing in 5 days. i’m wearing my comfortable black jeans and loose black and gray top. i have so much gray hair now from the hard life, pain and depression. thought i need to dye it, but no way. it just shows that i look like hell and older than i am.