Information About Social Security's Office of Disability Adjudication and Review

The Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) is responsible for holding hearings and issuing decisions as part of the Social Security Administration's process for determining whether or not a person may receive benefits.

ODAR directs a nationwide field organization staffed with Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) who conduct impartial "de novo" hearings and make decisions on appealed determinations involving retirement, survivors, disability, and supplemental security income. Through the Appeals Council, ODAR also reviews ALJ decisions on appeal by claimants or on its own motion and issues the final agency decision on such cases.

ODAR is one of the largest administrative adjudicative systems in the world. Within ODAR, more than 1,100 Administrative Law Judges enter over 500,000 decisions at the hearing level. At the last decisional level, the Appeals Council renders the Agency's final decision.

The Agency official responsible for the administration of this enormous adjudicative system is Lisa de Soto, the Deputy Commissioner for Disability Adjudication and Review. The Office of Disability Adjudication and Review is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia. There are two primary organizational components within ODAR -- Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge and the Office of Appellate Operations.

Hearing Operations: The Chief Administrative Law Judge is the principal consultant and advisor to the Deputy Commissioner on all matters concerning the ALJ hearing process and all field operations. The Chief ALJ manages and administers the hearing organization consisting of ten regional offices, 141 hearing offices, and five satellite offices.

Office of Appellate Operations: The Office of Appellate Operations consists of the Appeals Council and its support staff. The Executive Director of the Office of Appellate Operations also serves as the Deputy Chair of the Appeals Council and is a key advisor to the Deputy Commissioner on program operations matters, adjudicative trends at both the administrative appeals and court levels and related ODAR functions.

There are additional organizational units that support ODAR's mission. Those components are grouped under two broad headings -- Program Management and Administrative Management.

Program Management: Program management encompasses the development of operational policy and procedures for all ODAR activities. Program Analysis Staff (PAS) provides expert advice to the Deputy Commissioner on regulations and proposals for legislation concerning ODAR’s areas of jurisdiction; maintains ongoing liaison with other SSA offices with respect to program, legislative and policy matters; and reviews and prepares recommendations concerning hearings and appeals policy matters. PAS manages the communicating of policy through the Hearings, Appeals and Litigation Law Manual (HALLEX).

Administrative Management: Administrative management functions include organizing, planning, budgeting, and managing human and material resources. The Office of Management provides administrative support to the Deputy Commissioner for all management related activities for ODAR, and provides administrative support services to enable ODAR to carry out its nationwide program.