Video Hearing (VH) Opt-Out Numbers and Rates for Hearing Requests Received FY 2019

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.

NOTE: In the interest of more efficient management information reporting, effective with the FY 2019 report, this report will use opt-out requests posted in a given month as compared to receipts in that same month to arrive at the opt-out rates. This is the same opt-out rate calculation method used for internal OHO reporting and means that we no longer need to wait for 90 days before reporting on opt-outs received.

Month	Receipts	VH Opt-Outs	% Opt-Out
October 2018	42,738	15,509	36%
November 2018	49,289	17,652	36%
December 2018	37,891	13,312	35%
January 2019	38,344	13,339	35%
February 2019	41,133	15,563	38%
March 2019	52,767	19,602	37%
April 2019	40,182	15,157	38%
May 2019	46,828	16,561	35%
June 2019	39,548	13,512	34%
July 2019	36,478	12,404	34%
August 2019	48,092	16,852	35%
September 2019	37,611	13,373	36%
FY 2019	510,901	182,836	36%