When an SSA beneficiary disagrees with or wants to appeal a determination made regarding their benefits they can request an administrative hearing. SSA’s Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) is the administrative body responsible for issuing decisions on beneficiaries’ hearings and appeals. However, there is little public information regarding the training and guidance given to Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) and other OHO staff. In December 2023, NYLAG submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for the currently applicable Standard Hearings Operations Procedure (SHOP) used by the OHO.
In September 2024, SSA produced the SHOP Manual with limited redactions. The SHOP manual provides instructions to OHO staff, who make crucial determinations in SSA beneficiaries’ cases. There is limited public information on the specific training and guidance that is given to these employees, despite the determinative role they play in allowing the public access to benefits. SSA notes that the SHOP is a living document, and this version of the SHOP Manual is updated as of July 8, 2024.
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