Currently all Social Security offices are only offering phone services. This includes hearing offices, remote hearing sites and field offices. All hearing offices are closed to the public including claimant representatives or attorneys. However, employees are working remotely and continue to process claims for benefits. The Office of Hearings Operations is continuing critical work which includes, conducting hearings by telephone if agreed upon by claimants and their representatives. Other activities that will continue include: writing and issuing decisions, sending notices, developing records for hearing, screening cases for favorable decisions without hearings and scheduling hearings. Anyone who is currently scheduled for a hearing will be permitted to reschedule that hearing for a later time.
If you are scheduled for a hearing, do not go to the hearing site at the scheduled time, you should get a call from Social Security prior to the hearing to arrange either a telephone hearing or a continuance for your hearing at a later date. Please be aware that because Social Security employees are working from home, their phone numbers will appear on your caller ID as unknown, private or some other designation rather than Social Security or Office of Hearings Operations. You should answer all calls.
We are all struggling at this time and there will surely be delays in claims. However, it is clear to me and my staff that the Social Security Administration is working diligently to continue to provide service and process claims as best they can under the circumstances. Our office also remains open and available to answer questions and assist with claims.
