The June 2009 Social Security Forum, which is published by NOSSCR for its members, has a good update regarding Requests for Hearings by ALJ.
SSA has revised HALLEX I-2-0-40, which deals with the Request for Hearing filing requirements. The HALLEX provision has been revised to reflect the elimination of the signature requirement when filing a request for hearing.
A claimant should still use form HA-501 to request a hearing, but neither the claimant’s nor a representative’s signature is required on the form.