Social Security to Close National Hearing Centers Amid Shift to Virtual Appeals
The Social Security Administration (SSA) plans to shut down its five National Hearing Centers on May 18, 2026, citing the widespread adoption of virtual appeal hearings. Established in 2007 to alleviate workload backlogs by allowing administrative law judges to hear cases remotely via video, these centers have become largely obsolete as over 90% of hearings are now conducted digitally through modern videoconference platforms. Sources confirm that the closures will not result in layoffs or staffing reductions. Instead, the small number of employees currently assigned to these centers will transition to the agency’s network of 158 local hearing offices, which continue to offer in-person, phone, and online services. The SSA assures that there will be no impact on service quality or hearing schedules. This move marks the end of a centralized hearing structure that faced criticism from unions two decades ago for creating unnecessary bureaucracy. The agency is also looking to internally hire administrative law judges from its current attorney workforce to meet ongoing demands.
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Social Security to Close National Hearing Centers Amid Shift to Virtual Appeals
The Social Security Administration (SSA) plans to shut down its five National Hearing Centers on May 18, 2026, citing the widespread adoption of virtual appeal hearings. Established in 2007 to alleviate workload backlogs by allowing administrative law judges to hear cases remotely via video, these centers have become largely obsolete as over 90% of hearings are now conducted digitally through modern videoconference platforms. Sources confirm that the closures will not result in layoffs or staffing reductions. Instead, the small number of employees currently assigned to these centers will transition to the agency’s network of 158 local hearing offices, which continue to offer in-person, phone, and online services. The SSA assures that there will be no impact on service quality or hearing schedules. This move marks the end of a centralized hearing structure that faced criticism from unions two decades ago for creating unnecessary bureaucracy. The agency is also looking to internally hire administrative law judges from its current attorney workforce to meet ongoing demands.
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