Review Tribunal Hearings

Review Tribunals conduct hearings in order to hear information and make decisions concerning appeals involving CPP or OAS benefits. Review Tribunal hearings have the following characteristics:

• Privacy
• Appointing a Representative
• Language
• Hearing Locations

Privacy

Review Tribunal hearings are confidential and closed to the public. The only people allowed into the room for the entire hearing are:

• you
• your representative, if you have one
• anyone you bring with you for support, such as your spouse or a friend if allowed by the Tribunal
• the members of the Review Tribunal
• the representative from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
• an interpreter if you need one
• any Added Party to the appeal, and their representative if they have one

Only these people will hear everything that is said at your hearing. Witnesses may be asked to wait outside the hearing room until they are called upon to testify.

Appointing a Representative

If you appoint a representative we need your authorization (see Present Your Case). We cannot share information or communicate with your representative without your written authorization. All the personal information we have about you is kept confidential unless we are authorized by law to share it with another party.

If you have have obtained the services of a representative, we will need one of the following:

• a completed copy of the Authorization to Disclose form. You can also call us and we will send you the form
• a letter or fax signed by you with the name, address and telephone number of the person who will be representing you for this appeal
• a letter from your lawyer

Language

Hearings are held in English or French. If you are not comfortable in either of these languages, the OCRT will arrange and pay to have a professional interpreter at your hearing. Friends, family members, or your representative are not permitted to interpret at a Review Tribunal hearing.

Additional services may include signing or computer assistive devices for persons with disabilities affecting communication.

Hearing Locations

Whenever possible, hearings are held in a meeting room within your community as close as possible to your home. Usually the meeting room is in a hotel. However, if you have some distance to travel, we will make the necessary arrangements. We will tell you what travel expenses can be paid by us when we call you to see if you are ready to proceed with your hearing.