Video Hearing (VH) Opt-Out Numbers and Rates for Hearing Requests Received FY 2023

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 2022 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 2022	28,617	4,088	14%
November 2022	26,740	3,706	14%
December 2022	32,838	4,595	14%
January 2023	27,701	4,243	15%
February 2023	27,665	4,976	18%
March 2023	35,256	6,502	18%
April 2023	27,652	4,938	18%
May 2023	28,971	5,183	18%
June 2023	33,525	5,856	17%
July 2023	26,423	4,673	18%
August 2023	27,113	4,537	17%
September 2023	33,064	5,965	18%
FY 2023	355,565	59,262	17%