Chapter: I-2-1
Subject: Prehearing Analysis and Case Workup
This transmittal amends chapter I-2-1 of the Hearings, Appeals, and Litigation Law (HALLEX) manual to incorporate claimant enhanced outreach (CEO) calls, use gender inclusive language, and revise instructions for what an administrative law judge (ALJ) must do when granting a postponement to obtain a representative.
I-2-1-80 – We added that we may inform claimants of the right to representation at CEOs in addition to prehearing conferences and prehearing development contacts. We also added form SSA-HA-L1 “Important Notice About Representation” in the list of written notices the claimant receives advising them of the right to representation. We also made changes to reflect agency policy regarding the use of inclusive language. In subsection B.2., we revised instructions for providing claimants information about free legal services and we removed the requirement to obtain a signed “Acknowledgement of Postponement in Order to Obtain Representation” when granting a postponement to obtain a representative.
I-2-1-82 – We made changes to reflect agency policy regarding the use of inclusive language. We moved the NOTE from subsection A to subsection D. In subsection B, we added a reference to hearing office Standard Hearings Operations Procedure (SHOP) section 1.4.2.12. We also removed NOTE 2 because it did not relate to waiving the right to appear at the hearing. In subsection C, we added a brief discussion of CEOs.
Date: July 24, 2023