This is what I read on line:

An on-the-record decision in a social security disability or ssi disability claim occurs after a request for hearing before an administrative law judge has been submitted.

Essentially, the claimant is awarded disability benefits on the basis of the record (i.e. the medical records) without the need for a formal hearing.

Obviously, an on-the-record decision can be fantastically beneficial since the waiting time required for a hearing date can be dramatically shortened, and this can mean the world financially for claimants who are lucky enough to be put in such a position.

How does an on the record decision get granted? It happens after an on-the-record review has been done by either an administrative law judge, or a staff attorney at the office of hearings and appeals.

An on-the-record review can be done soley at the discretion of the hearing office, or it can be requested by either the claimant, or the claimant's attorney or non attorney representative.

Before requesting an on-the-record review, however, a claimant should realize that their available medical evidence should be particularly compelling. Moreover, the evidence (recent medical records) should be submitted to the hearing office along with the request for an on the record review.

Can a request for an on the record review ever hurt your case? No. In fact, an on-the-record decision can ONLY be an approval. Therefore, if a claimant is not approved after an on the record review has been conducted, a hearing date will still be scheduled for them.


An On the Record decision occurs when an Administrative Law Judge, prior to a hearing having been held, grants an approval to a disability claimant.

When an on-the-record decision is made, however, it is because the medical evidence available to an ALJ is strong to enough to validate an approval without a formal hearing being held.

On-the-record decisions are, as a matter of course, always approvals.

If a claimant's case is not approved following an on-the-record review, a claimant must then be given the opportunity to have the case presented at a hearing.

Can an on-the-record review be requested? Yes.

An attorney or non-attorney claimant's representative can make a request for an on-the-record review simply by contacting the Office of Hearings and Appeals. Claimants who are unrepresented, of course, can make this request as well.
http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/get-on-record.html