Last Update: 5/19/05 (Transmittal I-1-50)
SSA field office (FO) staffs inform unrepresented claimants of the right, if they choose, to be represented. On request, FOs also provide more detailed information to claimants about representation, including lists of organizations which provide legal services free of charge to qualifying claimants. For this purpose, each FO maintains a list of lawyer referral services and legal service organizations which do not charge a fee for providing services. In addition, each FO periodically updates the address information on its list and sends a copy of the updated list to the hearing office (HO) which services the FO's service area.
The HO has available and distributes one or more lists of lawyer referral services and legal service organizations based on the lists provided by the FOs serviced by the HO. If the HO staff becomes aware that the information on a referral list (names, addresses, etc.) is inaccurate or out-of-date, the HO staff will update its copy of the list and send a copy of the corrected list to the appropriate FO so they may also update their list.
If an unrepresented claimant requests a hearing before an ALJ, the HO staff will send a representative referral list to the claimant with the acknowledgment letter. (Also see HALLEX I-2-0-20 C. and I-2-0-92, Exhibit - Enclosure With Letter to Unrepresented Claimant.)