Proposal To Have AAJs Hold Hearings
From a Notice of Proposed Rule-Making (NPRM) that will appear in tomorrow's Federal Register: ... W e propose to clarify that an AAJ [Administrative Appeals Judge] from our Appeals Council may hold a hearing and issue a decision on any case pending at the hearings level under t itles II, VIII, or XVI of the Act . Just as ALJs [Administrative Law Judges] have the authority to hold hearings on a variety of disability and non - disability claims, we would not limit the kinds of claims that AAJs c ould hear. AAJ s would be required to follow the same rules as ALJs, and the hearings they hold would apply the same due process protections as hearings held by our ALJs . ... This is only a proposal. The public may comment on the proposal. Social Security must consider the comments. If the agency wishes to go ahead with final regulations, they have to submit them to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. This is a process that or...