SSA Hearing Office

Norwalk, CASSA Hearing Office

The average wait for a hearing at this office is 9 months, giving you time to build a strong medical record.

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Who decides cases at this office

The panel of 7 judges at this office shows a moderate spread in allowance rates, with outcomes clustering around a 58% median. Because each judge weighs evidence differently, your case must be documented thoroughly enough to stand on its own regardless of who is assigned. Judges are assigned randomly, so your preparation should focus on the objective medical facts that support your claim.

Approval Rate
78%
Total Dispositions
2,208
Approval Rate
72%
Total Dispositions
337
Approval Rate
67%
Total Dispositions
5,217
Approval Rate
58%
Total Dispositions
4,733
Approval Rate
57%
Total Dispositions
4,389
Approval Rate
53%
Total Dispositions
158
Approval Rate
50%
Total Dispositions
4,670
Rank Judge Approval Rate Total Dispositions
1Cynthia A. Minter 78% 2,208
2Margaret E. Luke 72% 337
3Tom Duann 67% 5,217
4James P. Nguyen 58% 4,733
5Paul Coulter 57% 4,389
6Dean Yanohira 53% 158
7James Carberry 50% 4,670

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How long you'll wait

At Norwalk, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 9 months— versus a national average of 8 months. Here's how it's tracked month by month over the past 16 months.

Wait (months)
0246810Aug '24Jul '26

Approval rates change with a lawyer

WITHOUT A LAWYER
baseline approval rate
Unrepresented claimants
WITH A LAWYER
~3×
higher approval rate
Represented claimants

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 a 9-month wait, you have a clear runway to ensure your file is complete before you face an ALJ. Your hearing will likely involve answering questions about your daily limitations and work history. A Vocational Expert will often testify regarding what jobs might exist for someone with your specific health profile. You must submit all updated medical records well before the hearing date, as last-minute additions are restricted. Bring your current medication list, including side effects, and a log of your daily activities to help the judge understand your reality. The final decision will arrive by mail after your appearance.

When an office has a 67% allowance rate, the cases that fail often do so because you did not anticipate the specific questions a vocational expert would ask about your residual functional capacity. You can use the 9-month wait to identify gaps in your medical record and ensure your testimony aligns with the evidence. A well-prepared file is the most effective way to navigate the variation across the panel and secure a favorable decision.

Field offices that route cases here

If your hearing is at Norwalk, 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.

Frequently asked questions