Each claimant who requests a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ) has a right to such a hearing once the Disability Determination Service (DDS), at the reconsideration level, has denied the claim. For the hearing, SSA requests the claimant complete and return the HAÂ4631 if the claimant's file does not reflect a current, complete medical history as the claimant proceeds through the appeals process. ALJs must obtain the information to update and complete the record and to verify the accuracy of the information. It is by this process ALJs can ascertain whether the claimant's situation has changed. The ALJ and hearing office staff use the
response to make arrangements for consultative examination(s) and the
attendance of an expert witness(es) at the hearing, if appropriate. During the
hearing, the ALJ offers any completed questionnaires as exhibits and may use
them to refresh the claimant's memory, and to inquire into the matters at issue.
The respondents are claimants requesting hearings on entitlement to Social Security benefits or SSI payments.
US Code:
42 USC 423
Name of Law: Social Security Act
US Code:
42 USC 405
Name of Law: Social Security Act
US Code:
42 USC 1382c
Name of Law: Social Security Act
US Code:
42 USC 1383
Name of Law: Social Security Act
The total burden decreased from 53,333 to 33,333 hours. This decrease occurred because the number of respondents decreased from 350,000 to 200,000 due to SSA's shorter case processing time prior to hearings. This allowed the ALJ to have the most current claimant information at the time of the hearing, and thus the ALJ requested fewer updates (i.e., completed HA-4631s) to the claimant's file.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.