Hearing requests recieved by our office are processed and scheduled within 5 days. Our office then issues two notices. One notice tells the person requesting the hearing that we have received the request and if the benefits will continue while a hearing is pending. The second notice is a hearing notice that will give the date, time and location of the hearing. We issue hearing dates as quickly as possible and the hearing will usually be held within three to six weeks. We expect that enough notice has been provided for both parties. If the person who requested the hearing is unable to attend at the scheduled time, they may call and request a reschedule. The number to call is listed on the hearing notice. We request that the person who wishes to reschedule the hearing has their personal schedule available when they call so we can find a date that works for them. We will only grant a limited number of reschedule requests.
We perform an inital contact with the person requesting the hearing. Often there is a misunderstanding or error that can be corrected without a hearing. If the parties are able to resolve the problem before the hearing, please contact our office by a written letter to inform us that hearing is no longer needed. the Voluntary Withdrawal form may also be used. Once we recieved the sign letter or form, we will issue a written decision stating that the hearing request has been withdrawn.
All parties are required to attend the hearing at the scheduled date and time. If the hearing requestor does not appear, a decision will be issued stating that they've abandoned the hearing and the agency action will stand. The decision we issue also gives information on requesting a rehearing if the hearing requestor feels that the abandoned decision should not have been issued. If the administrative law judge (ALJ) grants the request for a rehearing, a new hearing will be scheduled. We are unlikely to grant a rehearing request twice.