Pages

Dec 17, 2019

Ability To Opt Out Of Video Hearings Preserved

     Social Security is publishing final rules tomorrow on Setting the Manner for the Appearance of Parties and Witnesses at a Hearing. The ability to opt out of video hearings is preserved.

8 comments:

  1. How much delay does refusing a video hearing cause?

    ReplyDelete
  2. @3:01

    We've seen no significant difference in delay in hearing between a video hearing versus an in-person hearing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Less than the 2 years the remand takes.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is such a huge deal to hearing level attorneys.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Our video hearings go to a NHC with a longer wait than the local OHO. So I ask clients, which would you prefer, an office with judges that pay from 11% to maybe 50% (used to be closer to 40%) and a longer wait time or an office with 21% to 61% and a live judge. No one has has ever said they didn’t want to sign the objection.

    ReplyDelete
  6. NOSSCR and NADR fought very hard to preserve this option. They deserve credit for obtaining the letter from Congress and the numerous other voices that preserved this fundamental right to look the person in the eye when your case is being decided.

    Good Work!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Claimants can decline video but OHO can still make it a painful decision, for example by requiring them to drive several hours to the closest hearing office rather than a much closer remote site. This could actually happen if judges are no longer allowed to hold hearings at remote sites.

    ReplyDelete