Overview: Wisconsin SSA Hearing Offices
Wisconsin’s Social Security Hearing Offices support claimants in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and nearby communities. These offices oversee procedural work before a claim reaches a judge, including confirming jurisdiction, updating electronic records, reviewing incoming evidence, and preparing the hearing exhibit file. Coordinated communication with the state’s Field Offices helps maintain orderly case progression.
This directory provides verified contact information for all Wisconsin Hearing Offices. Listings include addresses, phone lines, hours, fax and e-file fax numbers, and Field Offices assigned to each jurisdiction. With accurate contact details available, claimants and representatives can ensure evidence is routed correctly and on time.
SSA Hearing Offices in Wisconsin
Below are the current Social Security hearing offices (Office of Hearings Operations, or OHO) serving Wisconsin claimants, listed by city in alphabetical order. Use these entries to confirm where your case will be heard and how to contact the correct office.
Madison Hearing Office
- Office Name: Madison Hearing Office (SSA Office of Hearings Operations)
- Street Address:
3rd Floor
2501 W. Beltline Highway
Madison, WI 53713 - Telephone: (877) 600-2854
- Fax: (833) 330-0038
- eFile Fax: (877) 486-2936
- Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Services the following cities/field offices:
WISCONSIN: Eau Claire, Janesville, La Crosse, Lancaster, Madison, Portage, Rhinelander, Rice Lake, Wausau, Wisconsin Rapids.
This hearing office generally handles cases from central and western Wisconsin. If your local Social Security Field Office is on this list, your hearing is likely assigned to the Madison OHO unless SSA notifies you otherwise.
Milwaukee Hearing Office
- Office Name: Milwaukee Hearing Office (SSA Office of Hearings Operations)
- Street Address:
Room 300W
310 West Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53203 - Telephone: (866) 495-0039
- Fax: (833) 559-0772
- eFile Fax: (877) 486-2940
- Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Services the following cities/field offices:
Michigan: Escanaba, Houghton, Ironwood, Marquette, Sault Ste. Marie.
Wisconsin: Appleton, Fond du Lac, Green Bay, Kenosha, Manitowoc, Marinette, Milwaukee (Downtown), Milwaukee (West), Oshkosh, Racine, Sheboygan, Waukesha, West Bend.
This hearing office covers southeastern and northeastern Wisconsin, along with Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Many claimants in Green Bay, Appleton, Kenosha, Marinette, and surrounding areas will have hearings assigned here, often by phone or video.
Wisconsin Hearing Tip: How to Answer Detailed Daily-Routine Questions
Wisconsin administrative law judges (ALJs) may ask for very specific details about your daily routine—down to how long simple tasks take. Instead of giving general answers, describe what actually happens on a typical day. If your routine varies, explain the difference between good and bad days. Specificity helps the judge understand your real functional limits.
You do not need to sound “perfect” or rehearsed. It’s better to be accurate, even if your answers feel messy or inconsistent from day to day. Judges want to hear how symptoms, pain, fatigue, or mental health issues affect real-world activities like dressing, showering, cooking, driving, and staying focused.
About Disability Advocates Group (DAG)
When your case reaches a Social Security hearing office in Madison or Milwaukee, the stakes are high. The judge will review years of medical records, your work history, and your testimony—often in less than an hour. Our team at Disability Advocates Group focuses on turning that limited time into your best opportunity to be heard.
We help people across Wisconsin and throughout the country with every stage of the SSDI and SSI process, including:
- Preparing and filing SSDI applications: We make sure your medical issues and work limits are clearly explained from the start.
- Appealing denials: We identify where prior decisions went wrong and strengthen the record for appeal.
- Requesting and organizing medical records: We pull together treatment notes, test results, and opinions so the judge sees a complete picture.
- Preparing clients for hearings: We help you practice testimony, anticipate detailed daily-routine questions, and feel ready for the judge and vocational expert.
- Representation before an ALJ: At your hearing, we stand beside you, present your evidence, and challenge unfavorable vocational testimony when needed.
- Monitoring case progress: We track your case with the hearing office so deadlines are not missed and evidence is submitted on time.
- Providing strategic advice: We guide you on work attempts, symptom journals, and RFC (Residual Functional Capacity) forms that can help support your claim.
Whether your hearing is scheduled in Madison, Milwaukee, or handled by phone or video from a local office, working with an experienced disability lawyer can reduce stress and help you present your limitations in a way SSA understands.
Prefer to talk it through with someone? Call 800-788-2095 to speak with our team, or start with a quick online screening.
FAQ: SSDI Hearings in Wisconsin
Do I have to travel to Madison or Milwaukee for my SSDI hearing?
Not always. Many Wisconsin claimants appear by telephone or video from home or a local Social Security Field Office. Your hearing notice will explain how you’re expected to appear. If travel is difficult because of your health, talk with your representative or contact the hearing office as soon as possible to discuss options.
What actually happens at a Social Security hearing in Wisconsin?
A Social Security hearing is a private meeting with an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), typically lasting 45–60 minutes. The judge will ask about your medical conditions, symptoms, daily activities, and past work. A vocational expert is often present to testify about what jobs you could—or could not—perform. There is no jury, and the atmosphere is more informal than a traditional courtroom, but the decision is still legally binding.
What should I bring to my SSDI or SSI hearing?
At minimum, bring a valid photo ID, a list of your current medications, and any recent medical updates that may not yet be in your file. Some people find it helpful to bring a short outline or symptom journal to stay focused when answering questions. If you have a representative or SSDI lawyer, ask them ahead of time what they want you to bring and how they want you to use your notes.
Do I really need a disability attorney or SSDI lawyer for my hearing?
You’re allowed to represent yourself, but many claimants find the process overwhelming. An experienced SSDI lawyer or disability attorney can help organize medical evidence, prepare you for the judge’s questions, cross-examine the vocational expert, and make legal arguments using SSA rules. In most cases, attorney fees are contingency-based and only paid if you win.
What if new medical records come in right before my hearing?
New records should be submitted as early as possible, but sometimes important tests or consultations happen close to the hearing date. Your representative can help you upload or fax these records to the correct hearing office and confirm they’ve been added to your file. If something critical is still missing, the judge may keep the record open after the hearing or, in some cases, reschedule.
Additional Resources
Use these guides on SSDI hearings to learn what to expect and how to prepare:
- What questions are asked at an SSDI hearing? — Learn the types of questions judges often ask about symptoms, daily activities, past work, and treatment history.
- Vocational expert at an SSDI hearing — Understand the role of the vocational expert (VE), how their testimony can affect your case, and how a representative can challenge unfavorable job opinions.
- How to prepare for an SSDI hearing — Step-by-step guidance for organizing your records, reviewing your file, and getting ready to testify honestly and clearly.
Get Help With Your SSDI Hearing in Wisconsin
Your Social Security hearing may be the best — and sometimes only — chance to fully explain how your medical conditions affect your ability to work. Whether your case is assigned to the Madison Hearing Office, the Milwaukee Hearing Office, or handled by phone or video, you don’t have to navigate the process alone.
Disability Advocates Group helps claimants across Wisconsin and nationwide:
- Understand what the judge and vocational expert are looking for.
- Translate medical symptoms into clear, work-related limits.
- Submit evidence to the right hearing office on time.
- Prepare for detailed questions about daily routine, bad days, and past jobs.
If you’re waiting for a hearing or just received a notice from a Wisconsin hearing office, now is the time to get support.
Call 800-788-2095, use our SSDI screener to see if you qualify, or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.