Background

This transmittal updates the instructions contained in HALLEX I-2-3-50 to reflect the change in agency policy announced in EM-08066 to include offering special notice options to visually impaired claimants and recipients as well as to blind claimants and recipients.

Explanation of Content and Changes

I-2-3-50(A) has been modified to update the definition of persons who may receive special notices to include visually impaired claimants or recipients as well as blind claimants or recipients.

I-2-3-50(B) has been modified to reflect the new definition in (A). A note has been added to explain that representative payees are not included in the definition.

I-2-3-50(C) has been modified to reflect a change in name from the Office of Hearings and Appeals to the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR). The section clarifies the responsibility of the hearing office when it receives a request for special notices.

I-2-3-50(D) has been modified to add operating instructions originally published in Chief Judge's Bulletin 08-06. It explains how the hearing office will process requests by blind and visually impaired persons for special notices.

I-2-0-3-50(E) has been changed to instruct how to notate the claim file for special notices depending on whether the file is paper or electronic.

Date: August 6, 2009