What happens at this stage
The ALJ hearing is the most consequential stage of an SSDI claim. After reconsideration denial, you have 60 days to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. The case is transferred from DDS to the Office of Hearings Operations (OHO).
In Colorado, hearings are held at two OHO locations: the Denver Hearing Office and the Colorado Springs Hearing Office. Wait times from hearing request to scheduled date currently run 4 to 8 months in Colorado — a meaningful improvement over the multi-year backlogs of recent years. Many hearings are now conducted by phone or video.
The hearing itself is informal but consequential: the ALJ asks questions about your condition, work history, daily activities, and treatment. A vocational expert (VE) testifies about jobs you might still be able to perform. Your attorney examines the record, cross-examines the VE, and presents legal arguments. A written decision typically arrives 60-90 days after the hearing.
What you need to do
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Request the hearing within 60 days
File Form HA-501 (Request for Hearing by Administrative Law Judge) within 60 days of receiving the reconsideration denial. File online at ssa.gov, by mail, or in person at your SSA field office. Late filing requires “good cause” and is risky.
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Continue medical treatment consistently
The 12-18 month wait is long, but it’s the most important record-building period of your case. ALJs look for consistent treatment, response to treatment, and progression of symptoms. Gaps in treatment hurt the case. If you can’t afford ongoing care, document that — financial barriers to treatment are recognized in case law.
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Obtain a treating physician's medical source statement
This is often the single most important piece of evidence at the hearing. Ask your treating doctor to complete a structured functional capacity statement specific to your condition. We provide form templates and help draft questions for your doctor.
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Prepare for hearing testimony
In the weeks before the hearing, we walk through the ALJ’s likely questions and your responses. Topics covered: a typical day, your worst symptoms, what activities you can and can’t do, medication side effects, mental health impact of the condition, and any work attempts since onset.
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Attend the hearing prepared
Hearings last 45-75 minutes. Phone or video appearance is now standard but you can request in-person at any of the three Colorado OHO offices. Dress neatly but comfortably — there’s no expectation of formal court attire. Answer honestly, including about good days and bad days.
What we do at this stage
The ALJ hearing is where attorney representation makes the biggest measurable difference. We:
- Request and obtain the complete administrative file from SSA before the hearing
- Identify gaps in the record and obtain missing evidence — particularly treating physician opinions
- Submit a prehearing brief 7-10 days before the hearing, framing the legal theory and pointing the ALJ toward the right analysis
- Prepare you for the hearing — what the ALJ will ask, how to describe limitations honestly and completely, what to avoid
- Examine the vocational expert under cross-examination, demonstrating why the jobs the VE identifies don’t actually fit your real RFC
- Present closing argument addressing each step of SSA’s sequential evaluation process
- After the hearing, submit any post-hearing evidence and a final brief if the ALJ requests one
Statistical SSA data consistently shows that represented claimants approve at significantly higher rates than unrepresented ones at the hearing stage. The reasons are concrete: better evidence, better legal framing, effective VE cross-examination, focused argument.
Colorado-specific notes
The Denver Hearing Office currently runs at a 62.4% approval rate (2025 SSA data) — above the national average of about 48%. Wait times from hearing request to scheduled date run 12-18 months. ALJs at Denver tend to be experienced and apply the law carefully; cases with strong medical records typically receive fair consideration.
The Colorado Springs Hearing Office runs lower at 44.1% (2025). Cases there require even more careful preparation. ALJs vary individually — case preparation strategy is partly judge-specific.
The opened more recently and handles overflow cases from Denver. Approval rates and ALJ behavior at are still being characterized.
For Western Slope claimants: video appearances are now the norm. There’s no practical disadvantage to a Front Range hearing office vs. a closer-to-home option, since most hearings are remote anyway.
Frequently asked questions
How long until I get my hearing scheduled in Colorado?
Currently 4 to 8 months from the date you request the hearing to the date it’s scheduled. Wait times have improved significantly compared to the multi-year backlogs of recent years. Wait times are similar across the Denver and Colorado Springs offices. Some cases (terminal illness, dire need, military veterans) can be expedited further.
Will I have to appear in person?
Most hearings are now conducted by phone or video. You can request an in-person hearing, but it doesn’t typically affect the outcome. Most claimants prefer phone or video for convenience.
What does a vocational expert do at my hearing?
The VE is a neutral expert paid by SSA who testifies about (1) what skills your past jobs required and (2) what other jobs exist in the national economy that someone with your residual functional capacity could perform. Your attorney cross-examines the VE to demonstrate why the jobs they list don’t actually fit your real limits. This is often where cases are won or lost.
What's the approval rate for SSDI hearings in Colorado?
Denver Hearing Office: 62.4%. Colorado Springs Hearing Office: 44.1%. National average: about 48%. Properly prepared and represented cases generally approve at higher rates than these averages.
How long after the hearing will I get a decision?
Usually 60 to 90 days after the hearing. Sometimes longer if the ALJ requests post-hearing evidence or a supplemental opinion. The decision arrives by mail with a detailed written rationale.