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Social Security: How To File An Unfair Treatment Complaint

This article was edited and reviewed by FindLaw Attorney Writers | Last reviewed March 26, 2008

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Social Security Administration
SSA Publication No. 05-10071
April 1993

How To File An Unfair Treatment Complaint

The Social Security Administration wants to treat fairly and equally all claimants and their representatives. We do not treat you differently because of your race, sex, age or disability, the amount of money you have, or any other reason. Below we tell you more about what you should do if you think the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) who conducted your hearing treated you unfairly.

What You Should Do If You Think
You Were Treated Unfairly

If you think any ALJ treated you unfairly, you should tell us about it and ask us to look into it. You can ask at any time, even while we are deciding your claims for benefits. If you think the ALJ who will conduct your hearing is not fair, you can ask for another ALJ to hear your claim.

You should give us your complaint in writing. But you also can tell us about your complaint, and we will write it down for you. Please give us as many details as you can, including:

  • your name, address, and telephone number;

  • your Social Security number;

  • whether you are the claimant or you are making the complaint for someone else;

  • the name, address and telephone number of the person you are making the complaint for (if not for yourself);

  • how you think you were unfairly treated, and who treated you unfairly;

  • when you think you were unfairly treated, and

  • who else saw or heard the unfair treatment.
Also please tell what actions or words you thought were unfair.

Where To Send Your Request

Anyone in this office or any other Social Security office can help you make your complaint. You also can write to:

The Chief Administrative Law Judge
Office of Hearings and Appeals
5107 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041-3255

What SSA Will Do

First, we will let you know promptly that we received your complaint. Someone who has not been handling your claim before will look into the information you gave us in your complaint. After we do this, we will let you know the results.

If you are appealing your claim, the Appeals Council will look into your complaint as part of your appeal. The results of the review will be part of the decision on your appeal.

If You Are Still Not Satisfied

If you think that we are not doing all we have said we would do, please write to:

Special Counsel
Office of Hearings and Appeals
5107 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041-3255
Una Hoja Informativa del Seguro Social

Como Registra Una Queja Por Tratamiento Injusto

La Administracisn de Seguro Social quiere tratar con la misma equidad a todos los beneficiarios y sus representantes. No lo tratamos diferente debido a raza, sexo, edad o incapacidad, dinero que poseen, o por ninguna otra razsn. Abajo le diremos mas sobre lo que debe de hacer si piensa que el Juez de Ley Administrativa que le dio audiencia lo trats injustamente.

Que Debe de Hacer Si Piensa
Que Lo Trataron Injustamente

Si usted cree que ha sido tratado injustamente en una audiencia de Seguro Social debe pedimos que hagamos una investigacisn. Puede hacerlo en cualquier momento, incluso mientras estamos decidiendo su reclamacisn de beneficios. Si piensa que el Juez que le va dar audiencia no es justo, puede pedir que otro Juez le de audiencia a su reclamacisn.

Debe damos su queja por escrito. Pero tambiin nos puede explicar su queja, y nosotros la escribiremos. Por favor dennos todos los detalles que pueda, incluso:

  • Su nombre, direccisn, y nzmero de telifono;

  • Su nzmero de Seguro Social;

  • Si usted es el beneficiario o si hace la queja en nombre de otro;

  • El nombre, direccisn y nzmero de telifono de la persona sobre cual presenta la queja (si no para usted mismo);

  • Como piensa que lo trataron injustamente, y quien lo trats asm;

  • Cuando piensa que lo trataron injustamente, y

  • Quiin mas vio y oys el tratamiento injusto. Ademas por favor dmganos que acciones o palabras piensa que fueron injustas.

Donde Mandar Su Peticisn

Cualquier persona en esta oficina o en cualquier otra oficina del Seguro Social le puede ayudar a hacer su queja. Tambiin puede escribir a:

The Chief Administrative Law Judge
Office of Hearings and Appeals
5107 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041-3225

Lo Que Hara La Administracisn de Seguro Social

Primero, le avisaremos inmediatamente que hemos recibido su queja. Alguien que no ha tratado anteriormente con su solicitud revisara la informacisn en su queja. Despuis de hacer esto, le daremos los resultados.

Si esta apelando su solicitud, el Concilio de Apelacisn investigara su queja como parte de su apelacisn. Los resultados del examen seran parte de la decisisn en su apelacisn.

Si Todavma No Esta Satisfecho

Si piensa que no estamos haciendo todo lo que hemos prometido, por favor escriba a:
Special Counsel
Office of Hearings and Appeals
5107 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041-3255
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