What Representatives Should Know About Online Video Hearings
In December 2020, we began offering online video hearings using a secure and free Microsoft Teams platform for you and your client to interact directly with an administrative law judge (ALJ). You can participate in the hearing with an internet connection using a camera-enabled smartphone, tablet, or computer. This allows the ALJ to see and communicate with you while maintaining privacy.
We understand that there can be hesitation in learning and using new technology. To enhance your understanding of online video hearings, we created a new webpage just for representatives. It contains information on the online video hearings, including a user guide and a new step-by-step training video. These new materials give you the opportunity to quickly master Microsoft Teams and gain a deeper understanding of the online video hearing process.
Online video hearings continue to increase in popularity. To date, we have conducted 3,500 online video hearings using Microsoft Teams from a variety of devices and locations. Over 35,000 claimants have chosen an online video hearing as their preferred hearing format. We have already scheduled 20,000 online video hearings to take place over the coming months.
We are working hard every day to enhance the online video hearing experience and we need your help! Early this summer, we’ll email a short satisfaction survey to claimants and representatives who have used Microsoft Teams for their video hearings. These surveys will ask about your experience using the new technology and the video hearing option. We encourage you to fill out this short survey and please ask your claimants to do the same. Survey responses will help us ensure the best possible experience for all online video hearing participants.
Please visit our website for the latest news about hearings and appeals. We encourage you and those you represent to take advantage of the online video hearings option. If you have questions, please visit our website. Please help us share the news on social media.