Who decides cases at this office
Outcomes at this office vary across the panel, as the 11 judges here maintain allowance rates that span from 34% to 83%. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, and each one weighs evidence differently. This variation makes it essential to prepare for the most rigorous standards rather than relying on the office-wide average.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | S. A. Bryant | 82% | 5,673 | |
| 2 | Janice Ulan | 72% | 6,196 | |
| 3 | Jennifer M. Long | 62% | 2,467 | |
| 4 | Scott A. Bryant | 59% | 14,121 | |
| 5 | NaKeisha Blount | 58% | 18,575 | |
| 6 | Malik Cutlar | 57% | 19,498 | |
| 7 | Dierdra Howard | 55% | 8,920 | |
| 8 | Eugene Bond | 54% | 5,297 | |
| 9 | Susan Maley | 53% | 8,453 | |
| 10 | F. H. Ayer | 52% | 23,075 | |
| 11 | Andrew M. Emerson | 51% | 22,944 | |
| 12 | Raghav Kotval | 50% | 26,628 | |
| 13 | Bonnie Hannan | 44% | 4,451 | |
| 14 | David J. Begley | 42% | 26,339 | |
| 15 | Michael A. Krasnow | 33% | 22,707 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? See if you qualify for representation before your hearing date.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At Washington, 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
Hearings in Washington involve an ALJ reviewing your file and hearing your testimony. Because the panel features a wide spread in approval rates, your preparation must focus on creating a record that is clear to any judge. Start by gathering all medical records generated since your initial denial, as these are critical for proving your ongoing limitations. You should also prepare a detailed log of your daily activities and side effects from medications. A vocational expert will often testify about the types of jobs available for someone with your specific restrictions, and you will have the opportunity to question them. Ensure all evidence is submitted well before the deadline, as last-minute additions are restricted.
When a panel's allowance rates span nearly 50 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. Many claimants spend their 8-month wait simply hoping for a favorable outcome, but an experienced representative uses that time to pressure-test your medical evidence against the vocational expert's likely testimony. This preparation ensures your evidence is ready for the hearing.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Washington, 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.