I live in TN &got denied twice, then asked for a hearing before a judge. All this without a lawyer. Advise is have all your paper work in order & with every part of the whole ordeal, be VERY honest in the paper work & in the questions they ask you at the hearing. It may be embarrassing to be saying this stuff to the judge, the court recorder & even your husband, (who was at the hearing with me), but it may make THE difference in his/her decision in your case. The judge also asked my husband some questions& he was brutally honest. I also have some physical problems, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia & a couple other autoimmune disorders... A good judge who's done this awhile can see thru any BS. You are also filmed during this whole time & I'm sure the judge reviews the footage as part of the decision. I was so nervous I left felling defeated as they just tell you the decision will come in the mail somewhere between 90 & 120 days. From starting the paperwork to getting my first disability check & backpay was 2 years& 4 months. Just be patient, it WILL happen. Good luck, hope this helped.