San Diego, CASSA Hearing Office

The ALJ panel at this office shows a moderate spread in allowance rates, ranging from 40% to 74% among active judges. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, and each weighs medical evidence differently. This variation makes it essential to ensure your documentation is airtight, as the judge's individual perspective will be the final factor in your decision.

At San Diego, 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.

With a 9-month wait, you have a defined runway to strengthen your file before you appear before an ALJ. Your most important task is to submit all updated medical records, including recent treatment notes and medication side effects, well before the evidence-submission deadline. During your hearing, the judge will likely rely on a vocational expert to testify about whether jobs exist that fit your specific physical or mental limits. You should be prepared to explain your daily activities and how your symptoms prevent you from performing even sedentary work. Because the panel here shows meaningful variation in how they weigh evidence, your file must be complete enough to stand on its own regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.

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 your documentation. While you wait for your hearing date, you can identify the specific weaknesses in your claim that an ALJ might seize upon by reviewing your file against the latest medical standards.

If your hearing is at San Diego, 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.