If the claim(s) file is electronic, hearing office (HO) staff will upload any hearing recording to the claim(s) file.

When screening for a hearing recording on initial receipt of an electronic claim(s) file, Appeals Council (AC) staff will ensure that it has been uploaded to the file and will perform a cursory spot check to determine whether the hearing recording is audible. Unless the hearing recording is missing (see subsection B below), there is generally no further screening action required by AC staff.

The HO procedures for handling hearing recordings in a paper claim(s) file are set forth in HALLEX HA 01280.050.

On receipt of a request for review involving a paper claim(s) file, AC staff will ensure that a copy of the hearing recording is properly associated with the claim(s) file. When a hearing recording is missing or inaudible, AC staff will first attempt to access the recording through eView. If a copy of the hearing recording is not associated with the claim(s) file, see subsection B below.

If the recording is not in eView, AC staff will send an email to the HO with the subject line Missing Hearing Recording. In the body of the email, AC staff will include the claimant's name and social security number, the date of the hearing, and the name of the adjudicator. If the case is designated critical, AC staff will also include that information in the email. As necessary, AC staff will document such actions on the Claim(s) File and Hearing Recording Search Checklist (see HALLEX HA 01310.026). To find an HO's general email address, AC staff may:

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  Type |OHO [region number] into the global address list and locate the appropriate HO. For example, to locate the Boston HO email address, type in |OHO R1 in the global address list and locate the Boston HO;

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  Search in the staff listings on the Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge intranet site; or

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  For National Hearing Centers, use the general email address |||OHO OCALJ NHC (name of NHC location).

If the case requires critical case processing (see HALLEX HA 01310.005), AC staff will notify the component holding the hearing recording that the request needs to be expedited and will make a follow-up call. AC staff will document any actions taken in the case processing system.

AC staff will annotate the case processing system with the date the AC requested the recording (and from whom), update the status code to Diary Action Pending (DACP), and diary the case for 14 days (10 days for critical cases). Annotating the case processing system is necessary so that the AC can evaluate the AC's attempts to obtain the recording before determining whether a remand for that reason is appropriate.

AC staff will send a follow-up email (or, in critical cases, make a follow-up call) if the hearing recording is not received when the diary expires, and the HO has not indicated that it cannot find the hearing recording. After sending the follow-up email (or, in critical cases, making the follow-up call), AC staff will diary the case again. If the recording is not received within 14 working days of the follow-up email (or within 10 working days of the follow-up call for critical cases), AC staff will confer with the branch chief. Ultimately, if the recording cannot be located, the branch chief will annotate the Claim(s) File and Hearing Recording Search Checklist (see HALLEX HA 01310.026) and add the completed checklist to the private section of the claim(s) file for review by the AC. A remand order can then be prepared.