Social Security to shutter National Hearing Centers since the vast majority of these appeals hearings now take place fully virtually through modern-day videoconference platforms.
Also, #SSA is spending more to recover low-dollar overpayments than it is recovering, on average 20% more, some as much as 50%.
They spent $4.6 million to recover $2.6 million for low amount overpayments from 16000 claimants, which often is caused by SSA's payment calculation error and no fault of claimants.
In 2007, SSA opened National Hearing Centers to have administrative law judges hear more appeals from individuals whose initial retirement or disability claim was rejected. Individuals would show up at their local hearing office to have their appeals heard, but the case would be heard on video by an administrative law judge located in one of these National Hearing Centers.
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/management/2026/05/social-security-to-shutter-national-hearing-centers-after-rise-of-virtual-appeals/