SSA Technology Update

 Posted on August 29, 2012 in Social Security Disability

On August 25th, 2012, the Social Security Administration (SSA) gave appointed representatives with access to online business services the capability to download audio recordings from Social Security disability hearings. This is a major step towards streamlining the disability benefits appeals process.

After a claimant has been denied Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits at an administrative law hearing, he or she has 60 days to file an appeal to the Appeals Council.  If the claimant chooses to file an appeal, his or her Social Security disability attorney will likely request the hearing recording from the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR). Not unlike any other part of the disability process, obtaining the hearing recording from ODAR is often quite difficult. It involves getting the right person on the phone to speak to, receiving the physical cd in the mail, and then having a functional disk to work off of. Meanwhile, Social Security still has their filing deadline to be mindful of.

Now, disability lawyers can login to Appointed Representative Services (ARS) and immediately gain access to hearing records. This new feature will likely improve efficiency and along with the other features already in place allow representatives to better serve their clients.