I asked one of our Portland, Maine judges this question: How far in advance of a Social Security disability hearing should the hearing brief be submitted?

The answer: 7 days ahead of the hearing.

The deadline for submitting new evidence is 5 business days (which equals 7 calendar days) ahead of the hearing. After the deadline passes, a judge can take a good look at a disability claim file, knowing that all the evidence, absent unusual circumstances, is in the record.

A judge will typically look at the DDS decision and then to the Representative's hearing memorandum to frame the issues in the case. If your brief isn't there yet, you forego an important opportunity to assist the judge with the analysis of the case.

So get your brief in early – at least a week ahead of the hearing.