It has been nearly six months since Social Security moved to phone hearings on Social Security disability cases due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the agency recently announced it would move to online video hearings sometime this fall. There was no mention of a definitive date of when these online video hearings would begin.
The Social Security hearings offices will remain closed to the public as they have been since mid March. Since the closing Social Security halted in-person disability hearings and have conducted phone-only hearings. During these phone hearings the claimant, Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) attorney and experts have all participated via a conference call.
Social Security will use the Microsoft Teams platform to conduct these video hearings allowing participants who have access to any camera-enabled smartphone, tablet or computer to partake in the hearings in this manner. In the press release from Social Security, which can be found below, it indicates that those who do not have the necessary technology to participate in a video hearing will still be able to participate by telephone as the hearings are conducted now.
The Social Security Administration announced a new service for people awaiting a hearing decision. In addition to telephone hearings, Social Security will offer the opportunity for an online video hearing using the Microsoft Teams platform beginning this fall. This new free service will allow applicants and their representatives to participate in the hearing from anywhere they have access to a camera-enabled smartphone, tablet, or computer. This stable and secure online platform allows the Social Security judge to see and interact with applicants and their representatives just like an in-person hearing, while maintaining privacy of the claimant’s information. Other hearing experts, such as medical or vocational experts, may participate as well.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of finding new ways to serve the public,” said Commissioner of Social Security Andrew Saul. “For over a decade, the agency has used video hearings to get applicants their hearing decisions sooner. This advancement builds on that effort, making it easier and more convenient to attend a hearing remotely, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. To continue to ensure all participants’ safety, we expect online video hearings and telephone hearings will be the only two hearing options for the foreseeable future.”
Social Security has been conducting appeal hearings with Administrative Law Judges (ALJ) via telephone only since March, while offices remain closed to the public to protect the health and safety of the public and employees. The agency’s ALJs have held more than 180,000 telephone hearings since March, allowing the agency to continue to deliver critical customer service.
For the new online video hearings, whether the device is a laptop, smartphone, or tablet on either iPhone or Android, people will experience a clear picture and audio of the ALJ and their representative during their hearing.
For updates on the implementation and expansion of this new hearing service, and other Social Security information, please visit the agency’s COVID-19 web page at, www.socialsecurity.gov/coronavirus/.
