{"abstract":"We are publishing a final rule we proposed in November 2018 regarding setting the time, place, and manner of appearance for hearings at the administrative law judge (ALJ) level of our administrative review process, with modifications. Our final rule states that we (the agency) will determine how parties and witnesses will appear at a hearing before an ALJ, and that we will set the time and place for the hearing accordingly. We will schedule the parties to a hearing to appear by video teleconference (VTC), in person, or, in limited circumstances, by telephone. Under this final rule, we will decide how parties and witnesses will appear at a hearing based on several factors, but the parties to a hearing will continue to have the ability to opt out of appearing by VTC at the ALJ hearings level. Finally, we are revising our rule to state that, at the ALJ hearing level, if we need to send an amended notice of hearing, or if we need to schedule a supplemental hearing, we will send the amended notice or notice of supplemental hearing at least 20 days before the date of the hearing. The date of hearing indicated in the amended notice or notice of supplemental hearing will be at least 75 days from the date we first sent the claimant a notice of hearing, unless the claimant has waived his or her right to advance notice.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"Social Security Administration","name":"Social Security Administration","id":470,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/social-security-administration","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/470","parent_id":null,"slug":"social-security-administration"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2019/12/18/2019-27172.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":404,"title":20},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":416,"title":20}],"citation":"84 FR 69298","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This rule is effective January 17, 2020.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket No. SSA-2017-0015"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2019-27172","effective_on":"2020-01-17","end_page":69308,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"explanation":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2019/12/18/2019-27172.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/12/18/2019-27172/setting-the-manner-for-the-appearance-of-parties-and-witnesses-at-a-hearing","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2019-27172?publication_date=2019-12-18","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2019-12-18/2019-27172/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":11,"page_views":{"count":4578,"last_updated":"2026-04-23 18:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-12-18/pdf/2019-27172.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2019-27172.pdf?1576590315","publication_date":"2019-12-18","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2019/12/18/2019-27172.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"0960-AI09":{"issue":"201910","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0960-AI09/setting-the-manner-for-the-appearance-of-parties-and-witnesses-at-a-hearing","title":"Setting the Manner for the Appearance of Parties and Witnesses at a Hearing","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201910&RIN=0960-AI09&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["0960-AI09"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"Supp Doc -Telephone Appearances by (VE) (ME) Witnesses (Final Rule FN 11)","document_id":"SSA-2017-0015-0251"},{"title":"Supp Doc - Number of ALJ hearings held by VTC since 2005 (Final Rule FN 8)","document_id":"SSA-2017-0015-0250"},{"title":"OQR FY 17 VTC Report","document_id":"SSA-2017-0015-0006"},{"title":"Executive Management Information System (EMIS) MI Central, an SSA internal data storage system.  Footnote 12.","document_id":"SSA-2017-0015-0003"},{"title":"Disability Operational Data Store (DIODS), an SSA internal data storage system.   Footnotes 11 and 13.","document_id":"SSA-2017-0015-0002"}],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0960-AI09/setting-the-manner-for-the-appearance-of-parties-and-witnesses-at-a-hearing","title":"Setting the Manner for the Appearance of Parties and Witnesses at a Hearing"},"comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=SSA-2017-0015","supporting_documents_count":5,"docket_id":"SSA-2017-0015","regulation_id_number":"0960-AI09","title":"Setting the Manner for the Appearance of Parties and Witnesses at a Hearing","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2019-12-20T04:00:08Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":69298,"subtype":null,"title":"Setting the Manner for the Appearance of Parties and Witnesses at a Hearing","toc_doc":"Setting the Manner for the Appearance of Parties and Witnesses at a Hearing","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Aged","Blind","Disability benefits","Public assistance programs","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Social security","Supplemental Security Income (SSI)"],"type":"Rule","volume":84}