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'ASK AND THOU SHALT RECEIVE."

I was contacted today (April 3, 2013) by an employee of an ODAR office in my Alabama jurisdiction.  The purpose of the call was to schedule a hearing for one of my clients.  After scheduling the hearing, I remarked to the ODAR employee about how glad I was to hear that we will be able to get the name of the administrative law judge assigned to our cases beginning on April 22nd.

"Actually, we've already begun providing names," the ODAR employee said.  "Since you asked about it, I will go ahead and tell you."  She then gave me the name of the ALJ who is assigned to the case in question.  It's a remarkable policy shift by Social Security--and a good one.

This corrects an absolutely awful policy that ODAR has been enforcing since 2011--that of keeping the name of the judge a secret until the representative and client walked into the hearing.  Beginning right now, representatives may ask for the name of the judge and the hearing office will provide it.  Starting April 22nd, the name of the judge will appear on the Notice of Hearing which is typically sent out 60 days or more prior to the hearing date.
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The Forsythe Firm handles Social Security disability cases in both Alabama and Tennessee.  There is no fee for our service unless we win your case and obtain past due benefits for you.


THE FORSYTHE FIRM

 
(256) 799-0297 for our Huntsville, AL office
(615) 732-6159 for our Nashville, Tn office

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