The whole point of the hearing in a social security disability case is to obtain verbal testimony from a claimant as to why they are unable to work. While the Judge is primarily concerned with the claimant's physical and/or emotional limitations, a claimant's appearance at the hearing can certainly have an impact on the case.
It's important to remember that a social security disability hearing is an informal courtroom proceeding. The claimant is sworn in and will testify under oath, however, the rules of evidence are very relaxed. Claimants should dress as comfortable as possible for a few reasons. First, depending on how busy the hearing location is on the day of your hearing, you might have to wait an extended period of time before your case is called. In some jurisdictions in New York, waiting beyond your scheduled hearing time is expected. Second, the actual hearing itself can last anywhere between 5 minutes and an hour. Maintaining comfort throughout the hearing is important because as the claimant, you want to make sure you are focused so that you can explain all of the reasons why you are unable to work.
In short, there is no requirement for what to wear at a disability hearing. For men, a suit and tie is unnecessary. For women, an evening gown is also unnecessary. If you are more comfortable in jeans than slacks, go with the jeans so that you can ensure comfort throughout your hearing. Judges are aware that claimants may have to get up or stretch during a hearing and this is precisely why dressing as comfortable as possible is important especially for the claimant's well-being.
