Hearings with the Social Security Administration During COVID-19
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: March 17, 2021
In March 2020, we temporarily closed all of our Social Security Hearing Offices due to the Coronavirus pandemic and are not offering in-person hearings. During the office closures, we are providing two flexible, safe, and secure hearing options: either a telephone hearing or our new option of an online video hearing.
Additional information on both of these hearing options is available here.
What are online video hearings?
Online video hearings are a secure way to conduct hearings over the internet, using a free platform called Microsoft Teams. You and your representative, if you have one, can attend the online video hearing safely and securely from any private place with a secure internet connection using a camera-enabled smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Like our telephone hearings option, the online video hearings option is not mandatory. We will conduct online video hearings the same way we conduct telephone and in-person hearings. During the hearing, the administrative law judge (ALJ) will swear in all hearing participants and listen to your testimony. You will see the ALJ and representative, if one has been appointed. Other participants, such as vocational/medical experts and interpreters, will join by phone.
What are the technology requirements to participate in an online video hearing?
You and an appointed representative, if applicable, must have access to email and a personal computer, laptop, or Android/Apple tablet or mobile device with a secure and private, high-speed Wi-Fi or cellular data connection. The device must have a camera, microphone, and speakers. If using a mobile device, you must download the free Microsoft Teams application.
We will send you a link to a user guide that explains how to access and use Microsoft Teams before the date of an online video hearing.
Please read our publication Online Video Hearings at the Social Security Administration for additional information. You can also watch a short video about online video hearings is available here.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: COVID-19, Disability, online services, Social Security benefits, social security disability benefits
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Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
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Chris
Nice article
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christian r.
how can i make an appointment to get my first ss card?
Sue
Hi, Christian, and thanks for your question. Please visit our Social Security and Coronavirus webpage for information about applying for an original Social Security card. To find the phone number and address of your local Social Security office, see our Office Locator. Our call volume and wait times are greater than normal, so please be patient. We hope this information is helpful.
Chris D.
I am unable to access the application to sign up for online services.. Keeps saying check my internet. Page not available.
I have been fighting ss for my disibilty now for about 7 years..
Sad. Some of us are not trying to scam our government. Some of us really need this.. So long I have lost everything I owned, my wife and boy because I can’t afford nothing. They moved back to her home. I am Living with Must Ministry. It’s temporary housing.. I can’t work I have no one an no place to go..
I worked very hard for 40 years did everything correct, owned homes cars I had it all. a car crash a coma with brain injuries an back surgery more MRI’S than I can count… Help please some one help me… I don’t want to die without seeing my son…
Vonda
Hi Chris, thanks for using our blog. We are aware of some users experiencing difficulty accessing our online services and are working on them at this time. We apologize for any inconvenience.
To speak to a representative, please call your local Social Security office. Look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Annie
I think it stinks that you are calling my Grandmother for a continuing disability review during this pandemic.
Vonda
Hi Annie. We understand that a medical review can be stressful for your grandmother. Any person who receives disability benefits must have their medical conditions reviewed. How often we review their medical condition depends on whether their condition is likely to improve. We call this review a continuing disability review (CDR). Check out our Continuing Eligibilityweb page for more details.
Annie
Stressful? You jerks. You’re killing her.
Annie
Stressful you j e r k s: You’re killing her.
Harry S.
I have applied for medicare b online, fax and drop off 6weeks ago and have not heard anything. Not sure if online all I need to do was sign adobe paper
Vonda
Hi Harry, thanks for using our blog. Please call your local Social Security office. Look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Lyndsey B.
I got married in June 2020 and need to change my last name. Is there a way to get the documents over to someone in person rather than mailing them in? I do not trust the postal service and worry that they will lose my documents.
Vonda
Hi Lyndsey, congratulations on your marriage! You can call your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Kristy M.
To Whom it may concern
I have been trying request an in person appointment. I was originally told to send all the information need to change my adopted kind name (their first, middle,and last names changed) by mail. I did so 3 months ago, now no one can find my information. I had to pay for a new drivers licences, birth certificates and no one will reimburse me or tell my where my information is. I was told that I need to send the information again in order to receive the correct social security cards. My reason was not deemed necessary for an in-person visit. I’m confused on why it is not when the office lost my information. I can not afford to pay for these items again if they are lost again. Now my children are having problems with seeing doctors because there name and socials do not match. I am also having trouble filing my taxes because of this.
Sue
Hi, Kristy. We are so sorry for your experience. For your security, we don’t have information about your documents in this forum. Take a look at our Social Security and Coronavirus web page for details about when we may make an in-office appointment. Please continue to work with your local office and explain what you have experienced as a result of the mismatch in your children’s names and Social Security numbers. You’ll find the telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. Our call volume and wait times are longer than normal, so please be patient. We hope this information helps.
d r.
This is appalling. Social Security Administration should immediately contact Kristy McIntosh and make this right. She should be reimbursed for all of her expenses, and Social Security should be fined for losing her documents. Why should she have to go through all this? Open up the darn offices. It’s been over ten months since you’ve been closed. Enough.
Look at the answer she received from Soc Sec Admin! How does that help her? Do they think she already hasn’t tried to help herself? Social Sec Admin should been ashamed of themselves. Help her!
This is the government doing the people’s work.
Speak Up, People!
d r.
This is appalling. Social Security Administration should immediately contact Kristy McIntosh and make this right. She should be reimbursed for all of her expenses, and Social Security should be fined for losing her documents. Why should she have to go through all this? Open up the darn offices. It’s been over ten months since you’ve been closed. Enough.
Look at the answer she received from Soc Sec Admin! How does that help her? Do they think she already hasn’t tried to help herself? Social Sec Admin should been ashamed of themselves. Help her!
This is the government doing the people’s work.
Speak Up, People!
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amy r.
i am trying to get my check turned bsck on
Vonda
For your security, Amy, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can call your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Bradley B.
So am i