Generally, non-English-speaking clients are on equal footing with English-speaking clients when applying for Social Security disability. Still, there are some preventative measures that can be taken to avoid any difficulties for non-English-speaking clients at the hearing, such as complications that may arise due to the client’s inability to communicate effectively in a non-native language. There are advantages to proving that a client cannot read or write in English as well. Most of these suggestions are fairly practical and easy to implement—they simply require attention to detail and a cooperative client.
First, when filling out the initial application, it’s important to indicate that the client does not speak English. This may seem obvious, but it is a vital step. Judges often look at early records in the disability process when trying to establish if a client speaks English.
