Video Hearing (VH) Opt-Out Numbers and Rates for Hearing Requests Received
FY 2015

This dataset contains counts of hearing request receipts in the months shown and objections to appearing at the hearing by video teleconferencing (VTC) known as “opt-outs”.

When hearing offices receive a request for a hearing, they send an acknowledgement notice to the claimant and any representative. With the acknowledgement, a form is provided to the claimant/representative with the opportunity to object to appearing by VTC, or to “opt-out” of a video hearing, within 30 days of receiving the notice (or later if good cause is found).

Considering the minimum 30-day wait time, mailing time, and hearing office processing time, we wait 90 days before reporting the opt-out number and percentage for any given month. This is why the data shown in the table reflect the receipts for work months completed at least 90 days ago. It should be noted, though, that even with the 90 day lag time, some VH opt-outs may continue to be recorded for receipts in any month. As a result, the number of VH opt-outs and the percentages shown are subject to change.

Month	Receipts	VH Opt-Outs	% Opt-Out
October 2014	76,384	22,974	30.08%
November 2014	55,961	16,605	29.67%
December 2014	55,507	16,596	29.90%
January 2015	68,952	20,626	29.91%
February 2015	57,609	17,417	30.23%
March 2015	60,570	18,231	30.10%
April 2015	58,662	17,832	30.40%
May 2015	71,357	21,070	29,53%
June 2015	58,142	16,898	29.06%
July 2015	69,427	20,172	29.05%
August 2015	57,555	16,638	28.91%
September 2015	56,174	15,987	28.46%
Year to Date	746,300	221,046	29.62%