Social Security's Hearing Process

The hearing process begins after an applicant for benefits has been denied at the initial and (in most states) reconsideration levels. The next step in the appeals process is a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).

You or your representative may request a hearing by an Administrative Law Judge. The ALJ will make an independent decision based on the evidence we have, including your testimony at the hearing.

You can request a hearing online, download the forms you need, write us a letter or ask us to assist you in completing your request. All requests must be in writing.

• In counting the 60 days, we presume that you receive the notice five days after we mail it unless you can show that you received it later.
  
  
• If you do not file an appeal timely, the ALJ may dismiss your appeal. This means that you may not be eligible for the next step in the appeal process and that you may also lose your right to any further review.
  
  
• You must have a good reason if you wait more than 60 days to request an appeal. If you file an appeal after the deadline, you must explain the reason you are late and request that we extend the time limit. The people in the Social Security office can explain further and help you file a written request to extend the time limit.
  

After you request a hearing, your Social Security office sends your case file to the Administrative Law Judge's (ALJ) office. Although we attempt to schedule all hearings promptly, there may be delays due to the volume of pending appeals or delays due to ALJ travel schedules if you wish to make an in-person appearance at the hearing rather than appear by video teleconference. Often, a hearing by video teleconference can be scheduled faster than an in-person hearing. We have 141 hearing offices nationwide and approximately 40% of our hearings are held in remote locations. This lessens the likelihood that you may need to travel far for your hearing.

At least 20 days before your hearing, we will send you a notice telling you the date, time, and place of the hearing.

The Administrative Law Judge usually holds the hearing within 75 miles of your home. However, your hearing may be farther away so more hearings can be held in one location. If travel arrangements will present a problem for you, tell the Social Security office when you request a hearing or as soon as possible after that. If you want to appear at a hearing but are unable to travel due to your health, submit a doctor's report with your request for hearing, explaining why you cannot travel.
 

Before the hearing:

• You and your representative, if you have one, may look at the evidence in your case file and submit new evidence.
  
  
• It is very important that you submit as soon as possible any additional evidence you want the Administrative Law Judge to consider.  If you do not have it when you request a hearing, send it to the Administrative Law Judge as soon as you can.

At the hearing:

• The Administrative Law Judge explains the issues in your case and may question you and any witnesses you bring to the hearing.
  
  
• The Administrative Law Judge may ask other witnesses, such as a doctor or vocational expert, to come to the hearing.

• You and the witnesses answer questions under oath. The hearing is informal but is recorded.
  
  
• You and your representative, if you have one, may question any witnesses and submit evidence.

After the hearing:

• The Administrative Law Judge issues a written decision after studying all the evidence.
  
  
• The Administrative Law Judge sends you and your representative a copy of the decision or dismissal order.
  

If you do not wish to appear in person at the hearing, you must let us know in writing when you request the hearing. Give your reasons, and ask the Administrative Law Judge to make a decision based on the evidence in your file, along with any new evidence by contacting your local Hearing Office and requesting a Form HA-4608. However, if your claim involves "disability," you may wish to explain how your medical problems limit your activities and prevent you from working.

The Administrative Law Judge may decide that your presence at the hearing will be helpful, especially if only you can best explain certain facts. If so, he or she may schedule a hearing even if you asked not to be present.

If the Administrative Law Judge schedules a hearing, you and your representative, if you have one, should attend. It is very important that you attend a scheduled hearing. If for any reason you cannot attend, contact the Administrative Law Judge as soon as possible before the hearing and state the reason.

The Administrative Law Judge will reschedule the hearing if you have provided a good reason. If you do not go to a scheduled hearing and the Administrative Law Judge decides that you do not have a good reason for not going, your request for hearing may be dismissed.

If you must travel more than seventy-five miles from your home or office to attend the hearing, we can pay certain costs. Here are the rules that apply:

• We can pay your transportation expenses such as the cost of a bus ticket or expenses for driving your car.
  
  
• In certain circumstances, you may need meals, lodging, or taxicabs. The Administrative Law Judge must approve these special travel costs before the hearing unless the costs were unexpected and unavoidable.
  
  
• The Administrative Law Judge may also approve payment of similar travel expenses for your representative and any witnesses he or she determines are needed at the hearing.
  
  
• You must submit a written request for payment of travel expenses to the Administrative Law Judge at the time of the hearing or as soon as possible after the hearing. List what you spent and include supporting receipts. If you requested a change in the scheduled location of the hearing to a location farther from your residence, we cannot pay for any additional travel expenses.
  
  
• If you need money for travel costs in advance, you should tell the Administrative Law Judge as soon as possible before the hearing. We can make an advance payment only if you show that without it you would not have the funds to travel to or from the hearing.
  
  
• If you receive travel money in advance, you must give the Administrative Law Judge an itemized list of your actual travel costs and receipts within 20 days after your hearing.
  
  
• If we gave you an advance payment that is more than the amount you are due for travel costs, you must pay back the difference within 20 days after we tell you how much you owe us.
  

• If you wish to appoint a representative, do so as early as possible. Your representative will want time to review your file and prepare for the hearing. If you wait until the date of the hearing or shortly before, your hearing may have to be postponed to provide the representative with the necessary preparation time. Our hearings are scheduled two to three months in advance, so rescheduling a hearing adds a substantial amount of time to the processing of your hearing request.
  
  
• Don't cancel a hearing unless absolutely necessary. Again, rescheduling your hearing will delay the ALJ making a decision in your case.
  
  
• Make sure that any new or updated medical evidence you want considered has been submitted before the date of the hearing by either you or your representative (the earlier the better). It may result in an early favorable decision for you, eliminating the need for a hearing. If a hearing is necessary, it will eliminate the delays caused because additional evidence has not yet been received.
  
  
• Notify us of any changes in your address immediately.