Video Hearing (VH) Opt-Out Numbers and Rates for Hearing Requests Received FY 2017

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/repre- sentative 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 2016	52,096	17,376	33.35%
November 2016	47,868	15,429	32.23%
December 2016	59,764	19,618	32.83%
January 2017	47,168	15,442	32.74%
February 2017	46,652	15,074	32.31%
March 2017	61,553	19,727	32.05%
April 2017	47,240	15,114	31.99%
May 2017	47,569	15,315	32.20%
June 2017	57,152	18,579	32.51%
July 2017	43,754	13,998	31.99%
August 2017	49,111	16,061	32.70%
September 2017	60,237	18,669	30.99%
FY 2017	620,164	200,402	32.31%