San Jose, CASSA Hearing Office

The four judges at this office form a tight panel, with allowance rates clustering between 52% and 62%. Because the judges here maintain a consistent approach to evaluating claims, you are less likely to face extreme swings in outcome based on random assignment. While this consistency is helpful, each judge still weighs evidence differently, and your case must be strong enough to stand on its own merits regardless of who presides.

At San Jose, 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.

Your hearing at the Robert F. Peckham Federal Building will likely center on your medical history and your ability to perform work. Because the judges here see a high volume of cases, your most important task is submitting updated medical records that reflect your condition since your initial denial. You should also prepare a detailed log of your daily activities and any side effects from your medications. A vocational expert will often testify to determine if jobs exist that fit your physical or mental limitations, and you will have the opportunity to question them. Once the hearing concludes, the judge will review the evidence and mail a decision to your home.

With an 8.5-month wait between filing and your hearing, you have time to identify gaps in your medical record and prepare for the specific questions a vocational expert will ask. By the time you sit down with the judge, your file should be a complete picture of your limitations rather than a collection of documents. Proactive preparation ensures your evidence is ready for the hearing.

If your hearing is at San Jose, 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.