How Many Witnesses Should Testify at a Hearing?

At first, it would seem wise to have several witnesses testify at a social security disability hearing. However, this is usually not a good idea. Judges hate long hearings and repetitive testimony. Also, there is a risk that a witness will say something different then the claimant, thus damaging credibility. An exception to this may apply if the claimant has a seizure disorder (and cannot describe what takes place) or some other type of serious mental illness that limits the ability to effectively communicate. If a witness does testify, questions usually relate to what the claimant could do before they became disabled and how they are limited thereafter.