Who decides cases at this office
The panel of 10 judges at this office shows a wide spread in allowance rates, with outcomes ranging from 23% to 64%. Because there is such significant variation across the panel, the judge you draw can influence the outcome of your hearing. While cases are assigned randomly, each judge weighs evidence differently, so your file must be prepared to stand on its own merits regardless of who presides.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert M. Erickson | 66% | 18,351 | |
| 2 | John Heyer | 61% | 6,438 | |
| 3 | Katherine Loo | 59% | 18,211 | |
| 4 | Gloria Pellegrino | 55% | 17,597 | |
| 5 | Mary P. Parnow | 53% | 25,093 | |
| 6 | Judson Scott | 39% | 1,080 | |
| 7 | Matilda Surh | 38% | 21,883 | |
| 8 | Melinda Yurich | 29% | 3,951 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? Get a free case review to prepare for your hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At San Francisco, 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 critical window to strengthen your file before you appear before an ALJ. Your primary task is to submit updated medical records that document your condition since your last denial. You should also prepare a detailed log of your daily activities and medication side effects, as these are often the focus of testimony. During your hearing, a vocational expert will likely testify about whether jobs exist that fit your limitations. You will have the opportunity to question this expert. Ensure all evidence is submitted well before the deadline, as last-minute additions are restricted. A decision will typically arrive by mail several weeks after your appearance.
When a panel's allowance rates span over 40 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. Many people spend their 8-month wait simply waiting, but a qualified attorney uses that time to pressure-test your evidence against the specific standards of the San Francisco panel. Represented claimants are statistically more likely to succeed at the hearing stage.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at San Francisco, 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.