OHO (Office of Hearings Operations)

The Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) is the branch of the Social Security Administration that manages the hearing level of the appeals process. OHO runs the hearing offices across the country where Administrative Law Judges hold disability hearings, and its staff schedules cases, assembles exhibit files, and issues the written decisions.

When you request a hearing after a reconsideration denial, your case is transferred to the OHO office that serves your area, and processing times vary significantly from office to office. OHO was formerly known as the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR), a name that still appears on some older notices. Hearings may be held in person, by video, or by telephone.