I-3-1-2.Receipt of Request for Review
Last Update: 2/22/23 (Transmittal I-3-193)
A. Request for Review Filed With Field Office (FO)
When a claimant files a request for Appeals Council review with an FO, the systems inputs made by the FO employees will automatically establish a case in the Appeals Review Processing System (ARPS). The new case will appear in ARPS in “New Case” (NWCA) status. The Office of Appellate Operations (OAO) branch will then proceed to process the appeal using OAO Practices and Applications (PANDA) section 1.1.
NOTE 1:
OAO support staff must make sure that the ARPS record was established on the correct ALJ hearing level record and that the ARPS record reflects the correct request for review date. If support staff identifies issues with the ARPS record, support staff may consult with the supervisory legal assistant (SLA) or branch chief (BC) to resolve.
When the FO cannot automatically establish a case, it will forward the request for review to OAO via fax or email. When OAO receives the request for review, OAO staff will establish (or re-establish) the case in ARPS. OAO staff will also associate the request for review with the claim(s) file.
NOTE 2:
When faxing the request for review to OAO, the FO will use the desktop fax number (833) 509-0814. When forwarding the request for review by email, the FO will send the email to ^DCARO OAO.
B. Request for Review Filed With OAO
When OAO receives a request for review directly by mail or fax, OAO staff will date stamp the document, make the necessary systems inputs, and establish the case in ARPS. See OAO PANDA section 1.1. OAO staff will also associate the request for review with the claim(s) file.
C. Request for Review Filed With Another Component
If the claimant files a request for review with any other Social Security Administration component (e.g., teleservice center, processing center, or hearing office), the component will acknowledge receipt and forward the request to OAO via fax or email (see subsection A, NOTE 2, above). OAO staff will associate the request for review with the claim(s) file.
NOTE:
Although discouraged from doing so, occasionally another component, an appointed representative, or a claimant will fax or scan the request for review into the certified electronic folder using a hearing office barcode instead of forwarding the request for review to OAO. In these situations, hearing office staff will receive an electronic alert that a request for review was added to the folder. Hearing office staff will alert OAO on receipt of a request for review by sending an email to ^DCARO OAO. See hearing office Standard Hearings Operations Procedure (SHOP) section 1.3.5.8.2.