The Executive Director of the Office of Appellate Operations (OAO) is the Chair of the Appeals Council and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of OAO. The Executive Director's Office (EDO) consists of staff that assists the Executive Director in carrying out his or her responsibilities.

Social Security employees can find specific information about EDO staff and organization on OAO's intranet page.

EDO staff handles a variety of administrative workloads, including responsibilities related to OAO space, equipment, operations, systems, training, and staffing. EDO staff also handles policy and procedural issues related to carrying out OAO's responsibilities in processing requests for review, quality assurance initiatives, own motion reviews, and civil actions.

In addition to management oversight activities, EDO staff handles or oversees specific workloads, including the following:

• •

  Allegations of unfairness, prejudice, partiality, bias, misconduct, or discrimination (see Hearings, Appeals and Litigation Law (HALLEX) manual HA 01320.025);

• •

  Clarification of remand order requests (see HALLEX HA 01390.095);

• •

  Representative sanction matters (see HALLEX HA 01110.055, HA 01110.057, and HA 01110.060);

• •

  OAO referrals of possible policy or procedural issues (see HALLEX HA 01320.035 or HA 01330.020);

• •

  Subsequent application exception requests (see HALLEX HA 01195.001);

• •

  Disqualification of medical experts, vocational experts, or consultative examiners (see HALLEX HA 01320.030);

• •

  Threats of violence (see HALLEX HA 01190.000 – internal agency users only); and

• •

  Railroad Retirement Board cases (see HALLEX HA 01305.055).