Beginning in November Social Security is planning to use the Microsoft Teams app for Administrative Law Judge video hearings during the pandemic but I see this message when I go to the Microsoft Teams website "Teams for your personal life is only available for iOS and Android. Desktop and web coming soon." This would rule out Windows laptops, which is most of them. You can do these hearings with handheld cellphones but that's not going to give you a stable image. Also, while they’re not heavy, holding up a cell phone for an hour could become tiring. I hope they get this sorted out by November.
Aug 30, 2020
Social Security Planning To Use Platform For Video Hearings That Doesn't Currently Work With Most Laptops
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MS Teams is available for desktop (Windows and Mac).
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/microsoft-teams/download-app
It's obviously available on PCs or else ALJs wouldn't be able to do hearings on their laptops. I believe it's included in Microsoft 365 subscriptions that may run $5 per month. If you go to their page on video conferencing via Teams, just about every user is on a computer.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/microsoft-teams/video-conferencing
It is the Microsoft Team App that is not available for the laptop, but you don't need to use the app to use a free version of Microsoft Teams.
I have a Windows laptop and my dialysis clinic uses the Microsoft Teams App for monthly online meetings with the kidney doctor. They started this in response to the Covid 19. One less trip to the clinic for many people.
The Agency's testing involved the current Windows 10 laptops. Mock tests and actual hearings included laptops, cellphones and other existing hardware.There was nothing reported that reflects the report of problems that that is posted. If there are gliches in the testing, it was not revealed in the Skype demonstrations recently shown to management.
Why would Microsoft make a program that doesn't run on their own operating system? Right there you should have known something was wrong. Wonk, Wonk!
It will be interesting to see how this works out. I am not sure where the original tests were carried out, but the HOCALJs and Hearing Centers are to roll it out next. I wonder if ALJs in the more rural areas where internet is spotty will be able to use it, much less the attorneys and claimants.
If the internet is spotty, you have advanced notification of the Hearing. You can get to a location with better connectivity. Same as if you had to go someplace for an in person Hearing.
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