The Social Security Adminsitration has finally issued formal top-down guidance for their offices in the coming days in light of the coronavirus outbreak. The most recent press release can be found at:
https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2020/#3-2020-2
Here is my take on the press release. Please confirm any information below with the SSA office and/or your attorney before taking any action.
(1) Hearings
The SSA has indicated that starting tomorrow, March 17, hearings will no longer be held in person. The SSA is to contact claimants and offer to (1) have their hearings via telephone or (2) wait for a rescheduled hearing in person. In my experience, telephone hearings can be challenging for everyone, as it is tough to avoid issues with sound quality and interruptions (dogs/kids), as well as the fact that the human element of a hearing is lost without face to face interaction. Conversely, the wait for an in person hearing may be 3 months or more, depending on how long the outbreak impacts SSA scheduling. Claimants with a scheduled hearing should be discussing their preferences with their attorneys ASAP. Claimants awaiting a hearing without an attorney... may want to reconsider and seek formal guidance.
For some hearing offices, hearings are simply cancelled for the near future. My understanding is that this includes some offices in Washington state. Some individual judges have cancelled all hearings, and I have no doubt more judges and offices will follow suit in cancelling all hearings through all formats as illness and recovery require. Again, you should check with your attorney to confirm your hearing status.
If you are considering appealing a recent Social Security denial, there is no indication that these deadlines will be waived! Continue to act promptly and use their online portals.
(2) General Social Security Operations
The SSA will not be offering in person services at their offices in the near future. As of right now, they will continue to offer services via telephone and online. Be prepared for longer hold times, longer response times, and more instances when your call will simply not be answered.
(3) The Coming Weeks
Simply put, nobody knows how the SSA will handle their operations the next few weeks. Please be patient with their staffers who are doing their best, and know that the SSA will attempt to place updates on their website when appropriate. I will also attempt to keep you informed through this sticky-noted message as we move forward. My hope is that this sticky gets removed as soon as possible, and we are able to return to normal as soon as possible. In the meantime, follow your doctor's advice - stay home when you can, maintain social distancing when you can't, wash your hands, and turn off the news from time to time. If you look outside, you may even see that spring is coming (I promise)!
-Jamie R. Hall, Esq.
https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2020/#3-2020-2
Here is my take on the press release. Please confirm any information below with the SSA office and/or your attorney before taking any action.
(1) Hearings
The SSA has indicated that starting tomorrow, March 17, hearings will no longer be held in person. The SSA is to contact claimants and offer to (1) have their hearings via telephone or (2) wait for a rescheduled hearing in person. In my experience, telephone hearings can be challenging for everyone, as it is tough to avoid issues with sound quality and interruptions (dogs/kids), as well as the fact that the human element of a hearing is lost without face to face interaction. Conversely, the wait for an in person hearing may be 3 months or more, depending on how long the outbreak impacts SSA scheduling. Claimants with a scheduled hearing should be discussing their preferences with their attorneys ASAP. Claimants awaiting a hearing without an attorney... may want to reconsider and seek formal guidance.
For some hearing offices, hearings are simply cancelled for the near future. My understanding is that this includes some offices in Washington state. Some individual judges have cancelled all hearings, and I have no doubt more judges and offices will follow suit in cancelling all hearings through all formats as illness and recovery require. Again, you should check with your attorney to confirm your hearing status.
If you are considering appealing a recent Social Security denial, there is no indication that these deadlines will be waived! Continue to act promptly and use their online portals.
(2) General Social Security Operations
The SSA will not be offering in person services at their offices in the near future. As of right now, they will continue to offer services via telephone and online. Be prepared for longer hold times, longer response times, and more instances when your call will simply not be answered.
(3) The Coming Weeks
Simply put, nobody knows how the SSA will handle their operations the next few weeks. Please be patient with their staffers who are doing their best, and know that the SSA will attempt to place updates on their website when appropriate. I will also attempt to keep you informed through this sticky-noted message as we move forward. My hope is that this sticky gets removed as soon as possible, and we are able to return to normal as soon as possible. In the meantime, follow your doctor's advice - stay home when you can, maintain social distancing when you can't, wash your hands, and turn off the news from time to time. If you look outside, you may even see that spring is coming (I promise)!
-Jamie R. Hall, Esq.
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