The Social Security Administration has announced that field offices will reopen to the public on March 1, 2022 and that live hearings for disability claims will resume on June 1, 2022.
During the pandemic, most of our clients have made appointments to apply for disability benefits by telephone. The hearings have also been conducted by telephone or video. We generally recommend that our new clients go to their field office to file their initial application for disability benefits and have found this to be the most efficient approach. There is always the opportunity to file online or by telephone in the event that someone is not comfortable or otherwise unable to go in person to file their initial application.