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WHAT IS O.D.A.R.?

If you are dealing with a Social Security disability claim, you have probably been in contact with an office called "ODAR."  It stands for the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review.  It was once known as the "Office of Hearings and Appeals."

Roughly 70 percent of all Social Security disability claims end up at this office (after being denied).  It is at ODAR that approximately one-half of claims will eventually be approved and paid.

WHAT HAPPENS AT ODAR?

ODAR is a branch of the Social Security Administration.  It is the appeals branch.  There are 100 ODAR offices in the US, employing about 1,000 administrative law judges who hear and settle Social Security disputes, mostly involving denied disability claims.  ODAR's responsibilities include:
  •  receiving and reviewing medical records and other evidence submitted by the claimant or his representative.
  • issuing subpoenas to obtain evidence.
  • holding hearings to establish the facts in a case.
  • notifying the claimant and representative when a new decision has been reached.
Because over one million new disability claims are filed each year, ODAR offices are overwhelmed and do not have enough staff to decide appeals quickly.  The average waiting time in Alabama is about 16 months to get a hearing.  After the hearing is held it will take about 90 additional days to get the ODAR decision by mail.



 

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