San Rafael, CASSA Hearing Office

The panel of 4 judges at this office demonstrates consistency in their decision-making, with allowance rates clustering around a 67% median. Because the judges here show a tight range in their approval patterns, you can expect a relatively uniform approach to how evidence is weighed. While the panel is predictable, assignment remains random, and each judge will evaluate your unique medical history independently.

At San Rafael, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 7 months— versus a national average of 8 months. Here's how it's tracked month by month over the past 16 months.

Hearings at this office move faster than in many other regions, so you must ensure your medical records are updated immediately following your denial. You should bring a comprehensive list of your medications, including specific side effects that impact your daily function, and a detailed log of your daily activities. The hearing typically lasts about an hour, during which an Administrative Law Judge will preside and a Vocational Expert will likely testify regarding your ability to perform work. You have the right to question the expert, which is a critical opportunity to clarify how your specific impairments prevent sustained employment. Evidence must be submitted well before the hearing date, as last-minute additions are restricted. A final decision will be mailed to you after the proceeding concludes.

Hearings at this office move quickly, leaving little room for error once your date is set. Even with a 62% allowance rate, the cases that succeed are those that proactively address the questions a Vocational Expert will pose about your work capacity. Organizing your medical records to directly counter potential gaps in your file before you step into the hearing room is a vital step in your preparation.

If your hearing is at San Rafael, 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.