The Low-Down on Video Teleconferencing (VTC)

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has published a set of proposed changes to its current policy on video hearings.

The centerpiece of these proposed regulations is a rule that would require a claimant object to the use of video teleconferencing (VTC) at a hearing within 30 days of receiving official notice of that VTC hearing.

Other proposed changes include:

-A rule requiring a claimant to notify the SSA of an objection to the time or place of a hearing no later than 5 days prior to the scheduled hearing date.

-A rule allowing the administrative law judge (ALJ) presiding over the impending hearing to schedule a telephone hearing if:

(1) the claimant simply cannot appear in-person or via VTC (for example, because the claimant is incarcerated and lacks access to VTC technology); or

(2) the ALJ finds, either on his own or based on information provided by the claimant or another party involved in the hearing, that “extraordinary circumstances” prevent the claimant from appearing in-person or via VTC