Video Hearing (VH) Opt-Out Numbers and Rates for Hearing Requests Received FY 2016

This dataset contains counts of hearing request receipts in the months shown and objections to appearing at the hearing by video teleconferencing (VTC) known as “opt-outs”.

When hearing offices receive a request for a hearing, they send an acknowledgement notice to the claimant and any representative. With the acknowledgement, a form is provided to the claimant/representative with the opportunity to object to appearing by VTC, or to “opt-out” of a video hearing, within 30 days of receiving the notice (or later if good cause is found).

Considering the minimum 30-day wait time, mailing time, and hearing office processing time, we wait 90 days before reporting the opt-out number and percentage for any given month. This is why the data shown in the table reflect the receipts for work months completed at least 90 days ago. It should be noted, though, that even with the 90 day lag time, some VH opt-outs may continue to be recorded for receipts in any month. As a result, the number of VH opt-outs and the percentages shown are subject to change.

For FY 2016, this report has a listing for the normal 52 week fiscal year (9/26/2015 – 9/23/2016) and a second listing to include the extra 53rd week (9/26/2015 – 9/30/2016). Most fiscal years have just 52 weeks, however, FY 2016 had 53 weeks, which is an anomaly that occurs every five or six years.

Month	Receipts	VH Opt-Outs	% Opt-Out
October 2015	75,887	24,476	32.25%
November 2015	55,457	18,175	32.77%
December 2015	55,802	18,583	33.30%
January 2016	64,476	21,290	33.02%
February 2016	56,255	18,463	32.82%
March 2016	57,591	18,875	32.77%
April 2016	67,747	22,020	32.50%
May 2016	52,446	17,188	32.77%
June 2016	49,310	16,045	32.54%
July 2016	60,671	19,523	32.18%
August 2016	50,928	16,404	32.21%
September 2016 (09/23/2016)	52,009	16,808	32.32%
September 2016 (09/30/2016)	66,283	21,263	32.08%
FY 2016 (52 weeks)	698,579	227,850	32.62%
FY 2016 (53 weeks)	712,853	232,305	32.59%