How to Most Effectively Describe Your Daily Activities in a Disability Case
A crucial part of a disability case is testifying about your daily activities. Judges often ask how you spend a “usual” day. Your description helps the judge decide whether your Social Security disability claim is credible and whether you should get benefits. For example, if you claim you can’t walk because of severe leg pain, but you testify that you go ice skating every night, the judge is going to doubt you have a legitimate claim.
An Ocala disability lawyer will advise you that the best way to help your case is to provide lots of details about your activities. Details give your testimony more impact and make it more memorable.
When the judge asks you what you do on a usual day, don’t just say, “I clean, cook, do laundry, and shop.” Even if this is true, it doesn’t help your case. You must provide details. For example, explain that you can clean for only a few minutes and then you must rest; you eat only frozen dinners because you can’t stand in the kitchen for very long; you struggle to fold laundry because you can’t lift your arms; you have to take your nephew to the store to help you carry the groceries.
Focus on the things you do differently now that you have health problems, such as having to pay a neighbor to walk your dog or mow your lawn. Your Ocala disability lawyer will be extremely helpful in this regard.
Make sure to emphasize that whenever you do an activity, you have to rest afterwards. Explain where you rest, such as on the couch or in your bed, sitting down or reclining. Also discuss how much longer it takes you to do things now, such as getting dressed or walking to the street to get your mail.
An experienced Ocala disability lawyer can help you map out your testimony to get you the benefits you deserve. Fill out the form on this page to schedule a free initial consultation with Ocala disability lawyer CJ Henry.