The Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) is a branch of the Social Security Administration (SSA) responsible for conducting hearings and making decisions regarding disability benefits. With over 160 hearing offices across the United States, ODAR handles appeals for retirement benefits, survivors benefits, disability benefits, and supplemental security income benefits. Each year, more than 1,600 administrative law judges (ALJs) at ODAR render over 700,000 decisions, aiming to determine whether individuals are eligible for benefits.
ALJs, who work under ODAR, are judges who preside over hearings to resolve disputes between individuals and government agencies, specifically focusing on hearings for the SSA. If a person disagrees with the ALJ's decision, they have the option to request a review by the Appeals Council of the SSA. If the Appeals Council denies the request, the individual can file a lawsuit in a federal district court. It is important to note that before a case reaches an ALJ, it has already been denied twice by the SSA, and the ALJ's decision is based on all the information presented during the hearing.
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