How to File a Civil Rights Complaint with the Office for Civil Rights

For more information about the Civil Rights Discrimination Laws and Regulations enforced by OCR, please review the Civil Rights on the Basis of Race, Color, or National Origin, Civil Rights on the Basis of Disability or Other Civil Rights on the OCR website.

COMPLAINT REQUIREMENTS - Your complaint must:

1. Be filed in writing, either on paper or electronically, by mail, fax, or e-mail;
2. Name the healthcare or social service provider involved and describe the acts or omissions believed to have violated the applicable civil rights nondiscrimination laws or regulations; and
3. Be filed within 180 days of when you knew that the act or omission complained of occurred. OCR may extend the 180-day period if you can show "good cause."

ANYONE CAN FILE! - Anyone can file written complaints with OCR. We recommend that you use the OCR Discrimination Complaint Form Package.  If you need help filing a complaint or have a question about the complaint or consent forms, please e-mail OCR at OCRMail@hhs.gov.

THE CIVIL RIGHTS NONDISCRIMINATION LAWS AND REGULATIONS PROHIBIT RETALIATION - Under Civil Rights Laws an entity cannot retaliate against you for filing a complaint. You should notify OCR immediately in the event of any retaliatory action.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR COMPLAINT TO OCR - To submit a complaint to OCR, please use one of the following methods.  If you mail or fax the complaint, be sure to send it to the appropriate OCR regional office based on where the alleged violation took place. OCR has ten regional offices, and each regional office covers specific states. Send your complaint to the attention of the OCR Regional Manager. Note: all complaint and consent forms require a written signature.

Option 1: Open and fill out the Discrimination Complaint Form Package in PDF format (you can also request a copy of this form from an OCR regional office). You will need Adobe Reader software to fill out the complaint and consent forms. You may either: (a) print and mail or fax the completed, signed complaint and consent forms to the appropriate OCR regional office; or (b) scan and email the completed, signed complaint and consent forms to OCRComplaint@hhs.gov. (Please be advised that communication by unencrypted email presents a risk of disclosure of sensitive information. There is some risk that any individually identifiable health information or other sensitive or confidential personally identifiable information may be contained in such an email, may be disclosed to, or intercepted by unauthorized third parties.)

Option 2: If you choose not to use the OCR Discrimination Complaint Form Package, please provide the information specified below by either: (a) mail or fax to the appropriate OCR regional office; or (b) email to OCRComplaint@hhs.gov.

If you prefer, you may submit a written complaint in your own format. Be sure to include the following information:

1. Your name
2. Full address
3. Home and work telephone numbers
4. E-mail address
5. Name, full address and phone number of the person, agency or organization you believe discriminated against you
6. Brief description of what happened: how, why, and when you believe your (or someone else’s) civil rights were violated
7. Any other relevant information
8. Your signature and date of complaint

If you are filing a complaint on someone’s behalf, also provide the name of the person on whose behalf you are filing.

The following information is optional:

1. Do you need special accommodations for us to communicate with you about this complaint?
2. If we cannot reach you directly, is there someone else we can contact to help us reach you?
3. Have you filed your complaint somewhere else?