More than 10 months now many Social Security hearings offices have conducted disability hearings by phone, but now more offices are adding the capability of having video hearings through the Microsoft Teams platform.
Each hearing conducted through this platform will allow the claimant, the judge, any experts, and the attorney to appear via video through the platform. All parties will need to have the necessary technological abilities to participate, this can include a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer.
New notice of hearings have been issued for hearing’s offices that are now participating in the MS Teams platform. The claimant will be issued the option of having the hearing by the MS Teams platform or by phone. This is the plan for the foreseeable future as Social Security has no immediate plans of going back to in-person hearings. Considering the situation with the COVDI-19 pandemic it seems likely this will be the practice for the next several months at least. Below is a description from Social Security of the MS Teams hearings.
What are online video hearings?
Online video hearings are a secure way to conduct hearings over the internet, using a free platform called Microsoft Teams. You and your representative, if you have one, can attend the online video hearing safely and securely from any private place with a secure internet connection using a camera-enabled smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Like our telephone hearings option, the online video hearings option is not mandatory. We will conduct online video hearings the same way we conduct telephone and in-person hearings. During the hearing, the administrative law judge (ALJ) will swear in all hearing participants and listen to your testimony. You will see the ALJ and representative, if one has been appointed. Other participants, such as vocational/medical experts and interpreters, will join by phone.
What are the technology requirements to participate in an online video hearing?
You and an appointed representative, if applicable, must have access to email and a personal computer, laptop, or Android/Apple tablet or mobile device with a secure and private, high-speed Wi-Fi or cellular data connection. The device must have a camera, microphone, and speakers. If using a mobile device, you must download the free Microsoft Teams application.
We will send you a link to a user guide that explains how to access and use Microsoft Teams before the date of an online video hearing.
Please read our publication Online Video Hearings at the Social Security Administration for additional information. You can also watch a short video about online video hearings is available here.
