As someone who needs Social Security disability, you probably do not want to take up a lot of time waiting to attend a hearing to make your case for benefits. Instead of waiting for an in-person hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, you might ask for Social Security to conduct your hearing by video instead.
The Social Security Administration can often schedule a video hearing quicker than an in-person hearing. If you are considering a video disability hearing, you should know what to expect if you decide to request one.
Giving you advanced notice
The SSA should let you know where the hearing will take place at least 75 days in advance. Hearing locations may vary. You might attend at an Office of Hearings Operations office, or you might go to an SSA field office or the office of your representative. Pay particular attention to the address of your hearing location. It may be different from the office you had previously gone to discuss your case.
Conducting the hearing
A video disability hearing functions just like an in-person hearing, so there should be no surprises. The only difference is that the Administrative Law Judge will hear your case from a different location using a video transmission to communicate with you. Otherwise, you are free to bring a legal representative, witnesses and other evidence to assist you in your case.
Protecting your privacy
Discussing your disability case will involve addressing personal medical details, some of which might feel embarrassing to talk about. If you want your case to remain private, you should know that the SSA does not record the video portion of the hearing, only the audio. In addition, the SSA secures the transmission of the hearing so it does not go out to the public. There should also be a technician present to help keep the video transmission stable and free of technical problems.
