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<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-09-21-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>0960-AE97</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>200304</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>0960</CODE>
            <NAME>Social Security Administration</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>SSA</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>OASDI and SSI; Administrative Review Process; Video Teleconferencing Appearances Before Administrative Law Judges of the Social Security Administration (737F)</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[This final rule revises our rules to permit us to conduct hearings before an administrative law judge (ALJ) at which a party or parties to the hearing and/or witness or witnesses may appear before the ALJ by video teleconference (VTC). The revised rules provide that if we schedule a hearing as one at which a party would appear by VTC, rather than in person, and the party objects to use of that procedure, we will reschedule the hearing as one at which the party may appear in person.  We requested public comments on this final rule, which was published on February 3, 2003.  The final rule became effective on March 5, 2003.  The comment period ended April 4, 2003.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Other Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Final Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>20 CFR 404.929</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 404.936</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 404.938</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 404.950</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 416.1429</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 416.1436</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 416.1438</CFR>
            <CFR>20 CFR 416.1450</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>31 USC 3720A</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 401(d)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 404(f)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 405(a)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 405(b)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 405(d) to 405(L)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 405(j)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 421</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 425</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 902(a)(5)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 1383</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 1383b</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>Yes</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <RPLAN_INFO>
            <STMT_OF_NEED><![CDATA[Our regulations provide for a hearing in person before an ALJ.  Traditionally, this has meant that the individual requesting a hearing makes his or her appearance in the same room as the ALJ.  These changes will allow us to schedule a party to appear by VTC without requiring prior written consent, and set out the right of the party to decline such an appearance.  We believe that conducting hearings by VTC will improve our efficiency and allow us to improve the service we can provide to individuals requesting a hearing.

The VTC provision will aid in reducing the average processing time for hearings by eliminating much of the time some ALJ's must spend to travel to remote sites to conduct hearings face-to-face.]]></STMT_OF_NEED>
            <LEGAL_BASIS><![CDATA[None.]]></LEGAL_BASIS>
            <ALTERNATIVES><![CDATA[Require participation in a scheduled VTC appearance with no right to decline a VTC appearance.]]></ALTERNATIVES>
            <COSTS_AND_BENEFITS><![CDATA[Improved  public service by providing faster access to a hearing.]]></COSTS_AND_BENEFITS>
            <RISKS><![CDATA[None.]]></RISKS>
        </RPLAN_INFO>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>01/05/2001</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>66 FR 1059</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM Comment Period End</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>03/06/2001</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final Rule with Request for Comment</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>02/03/2003</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>68 FR 5210</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final Rule Effective</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>03/05/2003</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final Action</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>08/00/2003</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>No</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>None</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <PRINT_PAPER>NA</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>Not Collected</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <RELATED_RIN_LIST>
            <RELATED_RIN>
                <RIN>0960-AA05</RIN>
                <RIN_RELATION>Previously reported as</RIN_RELATION>
            </RELATED_RIN>
        </RELATED_RIN_LIST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Robert</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Augustine</LAST_NAME>
                <MIDDLE_NAME>J.</MIDDLE_NAME>
                <TITLE>Social Insurance Specialist</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>0960</CODE>
                    <NAME>Social Security Administration</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>SSA</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>410 965-0020</PHONE>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>Office of Regulations, 6401 Security Boulevard,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Baltimore</CITY>
                    <STATE>MD</STATE>
                    <ZIP>21235-6401</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
