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EEOC Public Portal - Federal Sector Hearings; Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Complainants

How can I use the EEOC Public Portal?

If you are a federal employee or applicant, you can use the EEOC Public Portal to file a request for a hearing before an EEOC Administrative Judge or an appeal with the Office of Federal Operations and then manage documents in your Portal case file.

The EEOC Public Portal cannot be used to file a complaint against a federal agency.  Federal employees will continue to seek EEO counseling, file discrimination complaints and submit documents for the investigation through each federal agency’s EEO complaints program. The agencies also will continue to conduct investigations into complaints through their EEO Offices.

Federal sector employees who choose not to use the portal, may continue to submit written hearing requests per instructions in the Notice of Right to Request a Hearing and appeals per instructions in the agency’s final decision (FAD).  See https://www.eeoc.gov/federal/fed_employees/complaint_overview.cfm.

How do I use the EEOC Public Portal to file a request for a hearing?

You can submit a request for a hearing in just four steps:

  1.  Go to the EEOC Public Portal
  2. Click Filing with EEOC
  3. Select Federal Government agency and Next
  4. Select Request a hearing

We will ask you a few questions to make sure your complaint is ready for a hearing. Then you will create an account for your case by entering your contact information.

NOTE: We recommend you use your personal email as your user name for your account. Please keep your password in a safe place where you will be able to get it when you need it.

How do I use the EEOC Public Portal to manage my hearing request?

You can use the Portal to:

  • Create an account that will allow you to submit a hearing request
  • Submit a hearing request
  • Identify an attorney or representative and provide their contact information
  • Submit and receive documents supporting your hearing request
  • Check the status of your hearing request
  • Keep contact information current
  • Select Alternative Dispute Resolution

See EEOC Public Portal User’s GuideVol 6 – Hearings with the EEOC.

Requesting a Hearing and Creating an Account in the Portal

Where can I get more information about the hearings process?

For general information about the federal sector EEO hearings process, please visit the EEOC’s website.   

Can I file a complaint against a federal agency on the EEOC Public Portal?  Can I submit documents through the portal if my case is currently being investigated by the agency?

No. The EEOC Public Portal can only be used for the hearing and appeals stages of a federal discrimination complaint. It cannot be used for those stages that are the responsibility of the employing agency, including EEO counseling, complaint filing, or investigative stages of the EEO process. You must follow the process your agency has set up for these stages. 

If I want my case heard before an EEOC Administrative Judge, am I required to file a request through the EEOC Public Portal?

The Portal is the fastest and easiest way for all parties to communicate, send and receive documents, and track case status. If someone does not have the capability to access the online system or opts not to use it, he or she can still mail paper documents to the EEOC and the agency and must follow the procedures set out in the agency’s Notice of Right to Request a Hearing for submitting a written request.  Following its receipt, the written request for a hearing will be acknowledged by the EEOC office where the case is assigned.

When can I file a hearing request through the EEOC Public Portal?

In two instances you can file a hearing request:

  1. When you receive a Notice of Right to Request a Hearing; or
  2. When  more than 180 days have passed since you filed your complaint and the agency still has not finished its investigation, you have the right to request a hearing. The agency should notify you of this right. See 29 C.F.R. Section 1614.108 (f), (g) and (h).     

Do I need an attorney to submit a request for a hearing or to make a request through the EEOC Public Portal?

No, an attorney is not required for you to submit a hearing request or to proceed through the EEOC’s hearing process. 

If I am represented by an attorney, can my representative use the EEOC Public Portal?

If you have an attorney or another representative, we have made it easy for you and your attorney to use the EEOC Public Portal to manage your case. Simply add your attorney’s contact information and the  EEOC Public Portal will send an email to this address asking the named individual to confirm their representation. 

EEOC expects a reply from the representative within 10 days of sending a verification email. If we do not receive a reply after 10 days, then we will email you that EEOC has been unable to verify the representative.

Your representative will obtain his/her own EEOC Public Portal credentials. The representative must select the button next to “I represent a charging party or complainant.”  After signing up for the EEOC Public Portal, the representative can log in, go to the My Case page, and select the link for the appeal they wish to access.  They can then download documents from the appellate record and submit documentation for the matter.

How do I create an account on the EEOC Public Portal to submit a hearing request?

You can create an account in just four steps:

  1. Go to the EEOC Public Portal
  2. Click Filing with EEOC
  3. Select Federal Government agency and Next
  4. Select Request a hearing and Next

We will ask you a few questions to make sure your complaint is ready for a hearing. Then you will create an account for your case by entering your contact information. We recommend you use your personal email as your user name for your account. Please keep your password in a safe place where you will be able to get it when you need it.

You will also be asked to provide contact information if you have a representative. Then upload your Notice of Right to Request a Hearing document. You must upload the hearing request document before you can submit the hearing request.  Any future updates you make, such as your contact information, can be made from the My Case page on the EEOC Public Portal home page.

Viewing and Managing Information About Your Case in the Portal

What happens after I file a request for a hearing on the EEOC Public Portal? 

You will receive an email that will contain a hearing request number to use to refer to your case.  The agency will also receive notice of your hearing request and will be required to submit its Report of Investigation to the EEOC within 15 days. Your case will be assigned to an EEOC Administrative Judge.   When the Administrative Judge is assigned, you will receive an email.  After your hearing request has been submitted, you can view details of your case by clicking on My Case in the EEOC Public Portal Home Page.  If your contact information needs updating at a later time, you can enter the new information on the My Case page.

Further information about the My Case page on the portal can be obtained from the EEOC Public Portal User’s Guide Vol. 8 – Manage Case Information.

How will I know when new documentation has been added to my case?

You will receive an email from the EEOC Public Portal notifying you and your representative (if you have one who also has registered in the Portal) whenever agencies or the EEOC upload documents. The email will list the type of document, when it was uploaded, and instruct you to login to the Public Portal to access and view the document.

How do I update my contact information?

It’s very important that you keep your contact information (e.g., email, address, and phone number) up to date in your account on the EEOC Public Portal.  To update your contact info:

  1.  Go to the EEOC Public Portal
  2.  Click on
  3. My Cases
  4. Enter your login information (email and password)
  5. Click on the Update My Information button. 
  6. After you input any changes, click on the Save button to save your changes.

When will I hear from the assigned Administrative Judge?

Complainants  will hear from the Administrative Judge (AJ) shortly after the case is assigned to the AJ.  EEOC offices assign cases to an Administrative Judge based upon the order of receipt, as well as the workload of the office. Our goal is to assign all cases within 60 days, based upon the order of receipt.  In some offices, the workload of the office does not allow us to assign cases within 60 days.  In those offices you should hear from a Supervisory Administrative Judge (SAJ), who will oversee the case until an AJ is assigned. You will receive an email alert as soon as an Administrative Judge is assigned.  

Can my attorney or representative manage my case information and submit documents through the EEOC Public Portal?

Yes. To use the EEOC Public Portal, you must first identify the representative for your case hearing request and enter the email address of the representative in the contact field. The Portal will send a confirmation email to the address. 

EEOC expects a reply from the representative within 10 days of sending a verification email. If we do not receive a reply after 10 days, then EEOC we will notify you by email that EEOC has been unable to verify the representative.

To create a representative account in the Portal,  the representative should select the button next to “I represent a charging party or complainant.”  After signing up for the EEOC Public Portal, the representative can log in and go to the My Case page, which will list all of the charges, hearing requests and/or appeals associated with the case. The representative can then upload, view, download, and print documents for these cases.  

Further information for representatives can be obtained from the EEOC Public Portal User’s Guide Vol. 1 – Getting Started.

How will the Administrative Judge communicate with me throughout the process?  Will the Administrative Judge’s orders be uploaded on the portal?

You will receive an email to login to the Public Portal when a new document has been uploaded into the system by the EEOC or the agency.  These documents may be an order, a decision, or communication.  It’s important that you login to your account on the Portal in a timely manner to view new documents or required actions.

What documents can I submit through the portal once I file a hearing request?  Do I need to use the portal every time I submit something to the Administrative Judge during the hearing process?

All documents can be submitted to the Portal and doing so allows you, your representative, the Administrative Judge, and the agency to easily review and track the entire case file. You can submit motions, responses to the agency’s motions and responses to the Administrative Judge’s orders through the Portal. You may do this through the My Documents section of the My Case page.   

To upload documents to your case file in the EEOC Public Portal:

  1. Go to the EEOC Public Portal
  2. Click on My Cases
  3. Enter your login information (email and password)
  4. Click on the Upload button
  5. Click on the empty box next to Type of Document and select a document type from the drop-down list
  6. Click on the Attach Document button.
  7. This should open a window of your files. Click on the file you want to upload. The name of the file will appear next to “Select file to upload*”.
  8. Click Upload. You will see the document you uploaded in the list of documents under the Upload bar.

What kind of digital files can be uploaded?

While the EEOC prefers PDF file submission, all digital file types are permitted.

Is there a size limit on digital submissions?

The EEOC has not restricted the size limit for submissions, but you may be subject to limitations by the internet connection of the computer you use to upload your documentation.

Can I password-protect a file I upload to the EEOC Public Portal?

No. Under no circumstances should you upload password-protected files to the EEOC Public Portal.

How can I convert a paper document into a digital one to upload it to the Portal?

Most smart phones have a scanning app that you can use to scan a document and then upload to your account in the EEOC Public Portal. Many printers also can scan documents. Or you can use a stand-alone scanner. 

Can I remove a document I uploaded into my case file on the EEOC Public Portal?

No. Once you upload a document through the EEOC Public Portal, the document cannot be deleted.

Can I access the EEOC Public Portal on my mobile phone or tablet?

Yes, we have designed the EEOC Public Portal to be mobile-ready.

If I have a question for the Administrative Judge, do I contact him/her directly or submit it through the portal?  How do I submit a general inquiry directly to the EEOC office where my case is assigned? 

The Administrative Judge will provide contact information in an order that will be sent to you.  You should read all communications thoroughly and use the contact information provided.  If you need to reach the EEOC office where your case is assigned prior to assignment of an Administrative Judge, you can find the contact information for EEOC offices here.

Will the agency be notified when I submit a hearing request on the EEOC Public Portal?

Yes, the agency will be notified when you’ve submitted a hearing request through the EEOC Public Portal, so you don’t have to mail a copy to them.   

If you file a written request submitted through the mail, you will need to provide the agency’s EEO office with a copy of your hearing request.  

Can I see what documents the agency submits?   Does the agency see what documents I’ve submitted?  Will I know if the agency has communicated with the Administrative Judge? 

When you login to your account on the EEOC Public Portal, you can see all the documents the agency submitted as well as documents you have submitted.  The agency will also be able to view all documents that you upload to the Portal.  Both parties will need to follow the Administrative Judge’s instructions for submitting documents and communications during the hearing process. 

What if I need technical help creating an account or uploading documents?  For instance, what if I made a mistake in providing my information or have difficulty in uploading documents to the portal?  What if I don’t see the documents that I thought I uploaded? 

For website technical support(only), you can contact digitalsupport@eeoc.gov or 1-800-569-7118.

First, you may want to consult the User’s Guides provided on the portal.

Getting Started 

Hearings with the EEOC 

If I already have an open case pending before an Administrative Judge, can I now submit documents through the portal?

Yes -- if we have an email address for you in your pending case. First you will need to create an account in the EEOC Public Portal. To create an account, follow these four steps:

  1.  Go to the EEOC Public Portal
  2. Click Filing with EEOC
  3. Select Federal Government agency and Next
  4. Select Request a hearing and Next

Answer the next few questions, and then create an account for your case by entering your contact information. Please use the same email for your Portal Account that you currently have been using for your pending case. Please keep your password in a safe place where you will be able to get it when you need it.

If we don’t have an email for you in your pending case, contact the Administrative Judge assigned to your case or the EEOC office handling your case if an Administrative Judge hasn’t been assigned yet. Click here for contact information of the EEOC offices.   Once we have an email for your pending case, you can then go to the EEOC Public Portal and create an account using the same email address.

Am I able to check the status of my case through the Portal? 

You will be able to access status information through the public portal on the My Case page.  This page will have information about the last action in your case.  All documents and orders can be retrieved on the My Case page in the My Documents section.     

Can I directly contact the EEOC office where my case is pending?

If you have a question related to the processing of your case prior to assignment of an Administrative Judge, click here for contact information of the EEOC offices. If your case is already assigned to an Administrative Judge, you may contact him/her directly.

How long does the hearings process take?  How will I know when the Administrative Judge decides in my case?

There is no set time for the completion of the hearing process. Processing times may vary depending on the inventory of the EEOC office where your request is being processed. Offices assign cases to Administrative Judges based upon the order of receipt, as well as the workload of the office.  Processing times may vary from office to office. The Administrative Judge will set out timeframes for discovery and motions and general case processing instructions during the Initial Conference Order. 

I believe the agency’s investigation was incomplete. What can I do in the hearing stage?

You will have opportunities to inform the Administrative Judge (AJ) of any evidence that is missing from the record.  The AJ will instruct the parties to identify any evidence that is missing and needs to be addressed.  The role of the AJ is to ensure the adequacy of the record and to order any needed supplementation of the record.

I understand that my agency submits federal sector case documents through FedSEP.  Will those documents be available for my review on the EEOC Public Portal? 

Yes. The documents the agency submits through FedSEP will be sent to the portal and available for you to view.

Case Settlement Option

How can I settle my case after making a hearing request?

The federal sector hearings program has an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process designed to resolve cases at the earliest possible time.  The parties are encouraged to participate in ADR.  You will receive an invitation through the portal to participate in ADR shortly after you submit your hearing request.  If you are interested in participating in the program, you will receive instructions.  [OIT].  For more information about the ADR process in general, please go to this link [link factsheet]. 

Who can access my case information in the Portal?

Only EEOC authorized users can see case information in the Portal. Your representative and authorized agency representatives can see documents you and the EEOC have also submitted in your case.  

Is the EEOC Public Portal monitored all the time?

Yes. Our firewalls use an advanced intrusion detection system (IDS) that defends against today's blended security threats 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.  In addition, there are many layers of security monitoring from both inside and outside the network to ensure the immediate detection and rejection of unauthorized use.

Is the Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in my case file safe in the Portal?

  • Yes. The Public Portal and underlying network use guidance from NIST Publication 800-122 Guide to Protecting the Confidentiality of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to ensure that PII is only accessed by authorized users with the need to see it.

Where can I find out more information about how to use the EEOC Public Portal?

The EEOC Public Portal User’s Guide provides comprehensive guidance for using the EEOC Public Portal’s features and functions. The User’s Guide is published as individual documents, each of which covers a particular feature or related features of the EEOC Public Portal.

The following EEOC Public Portal User’s Guide documents are available: