The Social Security Administration plans to resume some in-person disability claims hearings this spring, after holding remote hearings for nearly two years.
Judges can continue to telework on all days without in-person hearings, and will only be required to work onsite on days when they’re scheduled to hold in-person person hearings.
SSA has also agreed not to mix in-person hearings with online or phone hearings without prior approval from the judge, which gives the agency an incentive to ensure judges have full dockets of in-person hearings.
Kilolo Kijakazi, a Biden appointee, is currently serving as SSA’s acting commissioner, having replaced Andrew Saul last July.