Who decides cases at this office
The panel at Long Beach consists of 8 judges with a moderate spread in their allowance rates, which range from 31% to 67%. While the median rate of 56% provides a baseline, the variation across the panel means that which judge you draw can influence the outcome of your case. Each judge weighs evidence differently, so your file must be robust enough to stand on its own regardless of who presides.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E. M. Koldewey | 76% | 4,335 | |
| 2 | Peggy M. Zirlin | 72% | 4,186 | |
| 3 | John C. Tobin | 72% | 12,394 | |
| 4 | Jean R. Kerins | 70% | 4,723 | |
| 5 | Marc A. Yerkey | 68% | 5,782 | |
| 6 | Robert A. Evans | 67% | 4,425 | |
| 7 | Edward C. Graham | 61% | 17,059 | |
| 8 | Susanne Lewald | 60% | 2,627 | |
| 9 | Cynthia Floyd | 55% | 24,759 | |
| 10 | Joseph Marcee | 52% | 3,001 | |
| 11 | Diana J. Coburn | 32% | 22,547 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? Get a free case review to prepare for your upcoming hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At Long Beach, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 8 months— versus a national average of 8 months. Here's how it's tracked month by month over the past 16 months.
Your odds change dramatically with a lawyer
SSDI hearing approval rates — represented vs. on your own
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Going to your hearing
With an 8-month wait, you have a valuable window to strengthen your file before you appear before an ALJ. Your hearing will typically involve you testifying about your limitations while a vocational expert provides testimony on available work. The most critical step is submitting updated medical records that document your condition since your initial denial. Be prepared to discuss your daily-activity log, medication side effects, and any statements from former coworkers. Because evidence-submission deadlines are strict, you must ensure your file is complete well before the hearing date. Decisions are rarely issued on the spot; you will receive a written notice by mail after the proceeding.
When a panel's allowance rates span over 30 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it due to gaps in documentation. Many claimants spend their 8-month wait time simply waiting, but a qualified representative uses that period to pressure-test your evidence against the standards used by this office. Represented claimants are better prepared to address the vocational expert's testimony and navigate the hearing process.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Long Beach, your case originated at one of the SSA field offices below — the local intake counter where you (or a representative) filed the initial application. Field offices don't decide hearings, but they hold your file, issue benefit-payment notices, and field the day-to-day questions during your wait.