Video Hearing (VH) Opt-Out Numbers and Rates for Hearing Requests Received FY 2018

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 2017	49,134	16,896	34.39%
November 2017	43,310	14,542	33.58%
December 2017	52,445	17,535	33.44%
January 2018	40,625	13,728	33.79%
February 2018	43,820	14,585	33.28%
March 2018	61,805	18,485	29.91%
April 2018	45,447	14,564	32.05%
May 2018	44,464	14,323	32.21%
June 2018	51,719	16,654	32.20%
July 2018	39,858	12,751	31.99%
August 2018	53,429	17,107	32.02%
September 2018	41,858	13,546	32.36%
FY 2018	567,914	184,716	32.53%