GN 03950.005 Responsibility for Conducting Administrative Review Under the Fee Petition Process - Jurisdiction

A. Policy - How jurisdiction is determined

Jurisdiction to conduct administrative review under the fee petition process for claims under Title II, Title XVI, or Title XVIII of the Act; or Title IV of the Black Lung Benefits Act is determined by the office that made the initial fee authorization.

B. Policy - Administrative review

1. Initial fee authorized by processing center

When a Program Service Center (PSC) or the Office of Central Operations (OCO) (which includes the Office of Disability Operations and the Office of International Operations), collectively known as PCs, made the initial fee authorization, the same PC conducts the administrative review.

See which PC has jurisdiction to make an initial fee authorization in GN 03930.015A.

See those employees delegated authority to conduct administrative review when the initial fee authorization was made by the PCs in the chart below:

Decision Maker	Reviewer
PSC	Special Case Review Analyst (or someone in an equivalent position) in the Security and Integrity Section
Office of Disability Operations	Disability Specialist in the Special Appeals and Class Action Section
Office of International Operations	Reconsideration Reviewer

The Assistant Regional Commissioners for Management and Budget in the PSCs and the Director of the Office of Central Operations may delegate authority to others in equivalent positions, as necessary.

2. Proposed fee on administrative review exceeds $15,000

The Attorney Fee Branch (AFB) in the Office of Appellate Operations (OAO) must review any proposal by a PC reviewer to authorize a fee in excess of $15,000. In such cases, the PC reviewer will prepare:

•

a recommended notice of administrative review decision, and
•

a Form SSA-1178 (Evaluation of Fee Petition for Representation).

The PC reviewer will notify the AFB that the recommendation is ready for review by sending an email to ^DCARO OAO ATTY FEE BR. The PC reviewer will attach the recommended notice and Form SSA-1178 to the email, will use a read receipt to confirm proper notification, and will notify the AFB if the underlying claim file is paper. Please do not send any paper claim(s) file to OAO until OAO responds with the necessary routing instructions. :

The PC reviewer will diary the case for 60 days to follow-up on the administrative review determination from the AFB and the return of the file.

The AFB will review the recommendation and authorize the fee (either adopting or modifying the PC's recommendation).

3. Initial fee authorized by the Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) or the OAO

When OHO or OAO makes the initial fee authorization, an official in OHO or OAO will conduct the administrative review. Those individuals or offices delegated authority to conduct administrative review show in the chart below.

Decision Maker	Reviewer
Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)	Regional Chief Administrative Law Judge (RCALJ) or designee who has jurisdiction over the ALJ's office
RCALJ, as presiding ALJ or on recommendation from a presiding ALJ	Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge (DCALJ) or designee
DCALJ, as presiding ALJ or on recommendation from a presiding ALJ	Chief Administrative Law Judge (CALJ)
AFB	OAO Deputy Executive Director or designee

4. Authority of OHO or OAO reviewing officials

As a reviewing official, the RCALJ, DCALJ, CALJ, or OAO Deputy Executive Director or designee may authorize a representative's fee on administrative review without obtaining review or concurrence regardless of the amount of the fee.

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0203950005

GN 03950.005 - Responsibility for Conducting Administrative Review Under the Fee Petition Process - Jurisdiction - 07/16/2025
Batch run: 07/16/2025
Rev:07/16/2025

Social Security

Program Operations Manual System (POMS)