All SSA Hearing Offices — Approval Rates and Wait Times
Every SSA Hearing Office, Ranked
SSDI hearing offices ranked by decision speed and approval rate.
Approval Rate
66%
Processing Time
34 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
68%
Processing Time
34 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
68%
Processing Time
34 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
66%
Processing Time
34 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
71%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
63%
Processing Time
32 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
63%
Processing Time
33 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
64%
Processing Time
34 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
65%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
10 Paducah, KY
Approval Rate
61%
Processing Time
33 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
70%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
71%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
13 Oak Park, MI
Approval Rate
66%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
14 Madison, WI
Approval Rate
69%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
60%
Processing Time
34 weeks
Wait Trend
16 Portland, OR
Approval Rate
64%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
17 Mobile, AL
Approval Rate
75%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
71%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
68%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
20 Reno, NV
Approval Rate
67%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
60%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
22 Tulsa, OK
Approval Rate
63%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
61%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
24 Columbia, MO
Approval Rate
60%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
66%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
26 Miami, FL
Approval Rate
63%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
27 Jackson, MS
Approval Rate
55%
Processing Time
31 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
55%
Processing Time
32 weeks
Wait Trend
29 Denver, CO
Approval Rate
61%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
56%
Processing Time
34 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
56%
Processing Time
34 weeks
Wait Trend
32 Columbia, SC
Approval Rate
62%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
57%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
64%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
35 Savannah, GA
Approval Rate
54%
Processing Time
33 weeks
Wait Trend
36 Oakland, CA
Approval Rate
66%
Processing Time
38 weeks
Wait Trend
37 Franklin, TN
Approval Rate
55%
Processing Time
34 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
64%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
39 Norwalk, CA
Approval Rate
67%
Processing Time
38 weeks
Wait Trend
40 Dover, DE
Approval Rate
59%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
55%
Processing Time
34 weeks
Wait Trend
42 Detroit, MI
Approval Rate
57%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
43 Pasadena, CA
Approval Rate
67%
Processing Time
39 weeks
Wait Trend
44 Evanston, IL
Approval Rate
61%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
45 Livonia, MI
Approval Rate
58%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
46 Lansing, MI
Approval Rate
53%
Processing Time
33 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
62%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
68%
Processing Time
39 weeks
Wait Trend
49 Orlando, FL
Approval Rate
60%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
55%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
60%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
52 Peoria, IL
Approval Rate
58%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
56%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
54 Columbus, OH
Approval Rate
63%
Processing Time
38 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
65%
Processing Time
39 weeks
Wait Trend
56 Akron, OH
Approval Rate
53%
Processing Time
34 weeks
Wait Trend
57 Eugene, OR
Approval Rate
58%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
65%
Processing Time
39 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
70%
Processing Time
41 weeks
Wait Trend
60 Raleigh, NC
Approval Rate
61%
Processing Time
38 weeks
Wait Trend
61 Tucson, AZ
Approval Rate
77%
Processing Time
42 weeks
Wait Trend
62 Portland, ME
Approval Rate
65%
Processing Time
39 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
53%
Processing Time
34 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
58%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
65 Hartford, CT
Approval Rate
59%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
66%
Processing Time
40 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
54%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
50%
Processing Time
34 weeks
Wait Trend
69 Tacoma, WA
Approval Rate
58%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
70 Spokane, WA
Approval Rate
69%
Processing Time
42 weeks
Wait Trend
71 Syracuse, NY
Approval Rate
57%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
48%
Processing Time
33 weeks
Wait Trend
73 Honolulu, HI
Approval Rate
68%
Processing Time
41 weeks
Wait Trend
74 Metairie, LA
Approval Rate
54%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
71%
Processing Time
43 weeks
Wait Trend
76 Queens, NY
Approval Rate
76%
Processing Time
44 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
69%
Processing Time
43 weeks
Wait Trend
78 Dayton, OH
Approval Rate
67%
Processing Time
41 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
68%
Processing Time
42 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
63%
Processing Time
40 weeks
Wait Trend
81 Omaha, NE
Approval Rate
49%
Processing Time
34 weeks
Wait Trend
82 Tampa, FL
Approval Rate
59%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
43%
Processing Time
32 weeks
Wait Trend
84 San Juan, PR
Approval Rate
72%
Processing Time
47 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
51%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
86 Toledo, OH
Approval Rate
54%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
60%
Processing Time
38 weeks
Wait Trend
88 Billings, MT
Approval Rate
63%
Processing Time
40 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
50%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
52%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
61%
Processing Time
39 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
61%
Processing Time
39 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
69%
Processing Time
46 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
69%
Processing Time
46 weeks
Wait Trend
95 Florence, AL
Approval Rate
47%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
96 Roanoke, VA
Approval Rate
54%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
52%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
61%
Processing Time
40 weeks
Wait Trend
99 Flint, MI
Approval Rate
60%
Processing Time
39 weeks
Wait Trend
100 Long Beach, CA
Approval Rate
55%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
101 Jersey City, NJ
Approval Rate
65%
Processing Time
43 weeks
Wait Trend
102 Providence, RI
Approval Rate
57%
Processing Time
38 weeks
Wait Trend
103 San Jose, CA
Approval Rate
61%
Processing Time
41 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
53%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
105 Topeka, KS
Approval Rate
44%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
106 Johnstown, PA
Approval Rate
55%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
62%
Processing Time
42 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
44%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
109 Fresno, CA
Approval Rate
66%
Processing Time
51 weeks
Wait Trend
110 Birmingham, AL
Approval Rate
49%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
111 Huntington, WV
Approval Rate
45%
Processing Time
35 weeks
Wait Trend
112 Lawrence, MA
Approval Rate
61%
Processing Time
42 weeks
Wait Trend
113 Louisville, KY
Approval Rate
53%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
114 Philadelphia, PA
Approval Rate
56%
Processing Time
39 weeks
Wait Trend
115 Orange, CA
Approval Rate
59%
Processing Time
40 weeks
Wait Trend
116 Jacksonville, FL
Approval Rate
51%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
117 Las Vegas, NV
Approval Rate
58%
Processing Time
40 weeks
Wait Trend
118 Manchester, NH
Approval Rate
57%
Processing Time
40 weeks
Wait Trend
119 San Antonio, TX
Approval Rate
52%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
57%
Processing Time
40 weeks
Wait Trend
121 Albany, NY
Approval Rate
61%
Processing Time
45 weeks
Wait Trend
122 Springfield, MO
Approval Rate
40%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
123 Baltimore, MD
Approval Rate
60%
Processing Time
43 weeks
Wait Trend
124 Buffalo, NY
Approval Rate
53%
Processing Time
38 weeks
Wait Trend
125 Springfield, MA
Approval Rate
61%
Processing Time
48 weeks
Wait Trend
126 Middlesboro, KY
Approval Rate
42%
Processing Time
36 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
51%
Processing Time
38 weeks
Wait Trend
128 Kansas City, MO
Approval Rate
56%
Processing Time
41 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
54%
Processing Time
39 weeks
Wait Trend
130 Wichita
Approval Rate
57%
Processing Time
41 weeks
Wait Trend
131 Milwaukee, WI
Approval Rate
51%
Processing Time
38 weeks
Wait Trend
132 Minneapolis, MN
Approval Rate
52%
Processing Time
39 weeks
Wait Trend
133 Norfolk, VA
Approval Rate
55%
Processing Time
41 weeks
Wait Trend
134 San Diego, CA
Approval Rate
58%
Processing Time
43 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
60%
Processing Time
50 weeks
Wait Trend
136 St. Louis, MO
Approval Rate
51%
Processing Time
38 weeks
Wait Trend
137 Memphis, TN
Approval Rate
55%
Processing Time
42 weeks
Wait Trend
138 Macon, GA
Approval Rate
46%
Processing Time
38 weeks
Wait Trend
139 Orland Park, IL
Approval Rate
43%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
140 New York, NY
Approval Rate
58%
Processing Time
50 weeks
Wait Trend
141 Albuquerque, NM
Approval Rate
49%
Processing Time
39 weeks
Wait Trend
142 Richmond, VA
Approval Rate
45%
Processing Time
38 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
42%
Processing Time
37 weeks
Wait Trend
144 Newark, NJ
Approval Rate
55%
Processing Time
44 weeks
Wait Trend
145 Knoxville, TN
Approval Rate
48%
Processing Time
39 weeks
Wait Trend
146 Bronx, NY
Approval Rate
55%
Processing Time
45 weeks
Wait Trend
147 Chicago, IL
Approval Rate
55%
Processing Time
45 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
46%
Processing Time
39 weeks
Wait Trend
149 Chicago, IL
Approval Rate
54%
Processing Time
43 weeks
Wait Trend
150 New Orleans, LA
Approval Rate
49%
Processing Time
40 weeks
Wait Trend
151 Seattle, WA
Approval Rate
55%
Processing Time
47 weeks
Wait Trend
152 Stockton, CA
Approval Rate
44%
Processing Time
39 weeks
Wait Trend
153 Boston, MA
Approval Rate
54%
Processing Time
45 weeks
Wait Trend
154 Wilkes-Barre
Approval Rate
45%
Processing Time
40 weeks
Wait Trend
155 Pittsburgh, PA
Approval Rate
49%
Processing Time
41 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
51%
Processing Time
43 weeks
Wait Trend
157 New Haven, CT
Approval Rate
47%
Processing Time
41 weeks
Wait Trend
158 Harrisburg, PA
Approval Rate
43%
Processing Time
40 weeks
Wait Trend
Approval Rate
34%
Processing Time
41 weeks
Wait Trend
160 Albuquerque, NM
Approval Rate
45%
Processing Time
46 weeks
Wait Trend
161 Baltimore, MD
Approval Rate
46%
Processing Time
51 weeks
Wait Trend
162 St. Louis, MO
Approval Rate
45%
Processing Time
51 weeks
Wait Trend
| Rank | Office | Approval Rate | Processing Time | Wait Trend | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Myers, FL | 66% | 34 weeks | ||
| 2 | Tupelo, MS | 68% | 34 weeks | ||
| 3 | Tallahassee, FL | 68% | 34 weeks | ||
| 4 | Greenville, SC | 66% | 34 weeks | ||
| 5 | Montgomery, AL | 71% | 35 weeks | ||
| 6 | St. Petersburg, FL | 63% | 32 weeks | ||
| 7 | Fargo, ND | 63% | 33 weeks | ||
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | 64% | 34 weeks | ||
| 9 | Mt. Pleasant, MI | 65% | 35 weeks | ||
| 10 | Paducah, KY | 61% | 33 weeks | ||
| 11 | Seven Fields, PA | 70% | 36 weeks | ||
| 12 | Charlotte, NC | 71% | 36 weeks | ||
| 13 | Oak Park, MI | 66% | 35 weeks | ||
| 14 | Madison, WI | 69% | 36 weeks | ||
| 15 | Morgantown, WV | 60% | 34 weeks | ||
| 16 | Portland, OR | 64% | 36 weeks | ||
| 17 | Mobile, AL | 75% | 37 weeks | ||
| 18 | Oklahoma City, OK | 71% | 37 weeks | ||
| 19 | Sacramento, CA | 68% | 37 weeks | ||
| 20 | Reno, NV | 67% | 37 weeks | ||
| 21 | Grand Rapids, MI | 60% | 35 weeks | ||
| 22 | Tulsa, OK | 63% | 36 weeks | ||
| 23 | San Bernardino, CA | 61% | 35 weeks | ||
| 24 | Columbia, MO | 60% | 35 weeks | ||
| 25 | Atlanta, GA (Downtown) | 66% | 37 weeks | ||
| 26 | Miami, FL | 63% | 36 weeks | ||
| 27 | Jackson, MS | 55% | 31 weeks | ||
| 28 | Evansville, IN | 55% | 32 weeks | ||
| 29 | Denver, CO | 61% | 36 weeks | ||
| 30 | Kingsport, TN | 56% | 34 weeks | ||
| 31 | Houston, TX (North) | 56% | 34 weeks | ||
| 32 | Columbia, SC | 62% | 36 weeks | ||
| 33 | Nashville, TN | 57% | 35 weeks | ||
| 34 | Covington, GA | 64% | 37 weeks | ||
| 35 | Savannah, GA | 54% | 33 weeks | ||
| 36 | Oakland, CA | 66% | 38 weeks | ||
| 37 | Franklin, TN | 55% | 34 weeks | ||
| 38 | Dallas, TX (North) | 64% | 37 weeks | ||
| 39 | Norwalk, CA | 67% | 38 weeks | ||
| 40 | Dover, DE | 59% | 36 weeks | ||
| 41 | Alexandria, LA | 55% | 34 weeks | ||
| 42 | Detroit, MI | 57% | 35 weeks | ||
| 43 | Pasadena, CA | 67% | 39 weeks | ||
| 44 | Evanston, IL | 61% | 37 weeks | ||
| 45 | Livonia, MI | 58% | 36 weeks | ||
| 46 | Lansing, MI | 53% | 33 weeks | ||
| 47 | Charleston, WV | 62% | 37 weeks | ||
| 48 | Chattanooga, TN | 68% | 39 weeks | ||
| 49 | Orlando, FL | 60% | 37 weeks | ||
| 50 | Rio Grande Valley, TX | 55% | 35 weeks | ||
| 51 | Fort Wayne, IN | 60% | 37 weeks | ||
| 52 | Peoria, IL | 58% | 36 weeks | ||
| 53 | Valparaiso, IN | 56% | 35 weeks | ||
| 54 | Columbus, OH | 63% | 38 weeks | ||
| 55 | Greensboro, NC | 65% | 39 weeks | ||
| 56 | Akron, OH | 53% | 34 weeks | ||
| 57 | Eugene, OR | 58% | 36 weeks | ||
| 58 | Fayetteville, NC | 65% | 39 weeks | ||
| 59 | Los Angeles, CA (Downtown) | 70% | 41 weeks | ||
| 60 | Raleigh, NC | 61% | 38 weeks | ||
| 61 | Tucson, AZ | 77% | 42 weeks | ||
| 62 | Portland, ME | 65% | 39 weeks | ||
| 63 | Des Moines, IA | 53% | 34 weeks | ||
| 64 | Dallas, TX (Downtown) | 58% | 37 weeks | ||
| 65 | Hartford, CT | 59% | 37 weeks | ||
| 66 | New York, NY (Varick) | 66% | 40 weeks | ||
| 67 | Fort Worth, TX | 54% | 35 weeks | ||
| 68 | Lexington, KY | 50% | 34 weeks | ||
| 69 | Tacoma, WA | 58% | 37 weeks | ||
| 70 | Spokane, WA | 69% | 42 weeks | ||
| 71 | Syracuse, NY | 57% | 36 weeks | ||
| 72 | Charleston, SC | 48% | 33 weeks | ||
| 73 | Honolulu, HI | 68% | 41 weeks | ||
| 74 | Metairie, LA | 54% | 35 weeks | ||
| 75 | Long Island, NY | 71% | 43 weeks | ||
| 76 | Queens, NY | 76% | 44 weeks | ||
| 77 | Santa Barbara, CA | 69% | 43 weeks | ||
| 78 | Dayton, OH | 67% | 41 weeks | ||
| 79 | Rochester, NY | 68% | 42 weeks | ||
| 80 | Washington, DC | 63% | 40 weeks | ||
| 81 | Omaha, NE | 49% | 34 weeks | ||
| 82 | Tampa, FL | 59% | 37 weeks | ||
| 83 | Little Rock, AR | 43% | 32 weeks | ||
| 84 | San Juan, PR | 72% | 47 weeks | ||
| 85 | Cleveland, OH | 51% | 35 weeks | ||
| 86 | Toledo, OH | 54% | 36 weeks | ||
| 87 | Oak Brook, IL | 60% | 38 weeks | ||
| 88 | Billings, MT | 63% | 40 weeks | ||
| 89 | Hattiesburg, MS | 50% | 35 weeks | ||
| 90 | Cincinnati, OH | 52% | 35 weeks | ||
| 91 | Elkins Park, PA | 61% | 39 weeks | ||
| 92 | Fort Smith, AR | 61% | 39 weeks | ||
| 93 | Shreveport, LA | 69% | 46 weeks | ||
| 94 | South Jersey, NJ | 69% | 46 weeks | ||
| 95 | Florence, AL | 47% | 35 weeks | ||
| 96 | Roanoke, VA | 54% | 36 weeks | ||
| 97 | Salt Lake City, UT | 52% | 36 weeks | ||
| 98 | San Rafael, CA | 61% | 40 weeks | ||
| 99 | Flint, MI | 60% | 39 weeks | ||
| 100 | Long Beach, CA | 55% | 37 weeks | ||
| 101 | Jersey City, NJ | 65% | 43 weeks | ||
| 102 | Providence, RI | 57% | 38 weeks | ||
| 103 | San Jose, CA | 61% | 41 weeks | ||
| 104 | Houston, TX (West) | 53% | 36 weeks | ||
| 105 | Topeka, KS | 44% | 35 weeks | ||
| 106 | Johnstown, PA | 55% | 37 weeks | ||
| 107 | Los Angeles, CA (West) | 62% | 42 weeks | ||
| 108 | Atlanta, GA (North) | 44% | 35 weeks | ||
| 109 | Fresno, CA | 66% | 51 weeks | ||
| 110 | Birmingham, AL | 49% | 36 weeks | ||
| 111 | Huntington, WV | 45% | 35 weeks | ||
| 112 | Lawrence, MA | 61% | 42 weeks | ||
| 113 | Louisville, KY | 53% | 37 weeks | ||
| 114 | Philadelphia, PA | 56% | 39 weeks | ||
| 115 | Orange, CA | 59% | 40 weeks | ||
| 116 | Jacksonville, FL | 51% | 37 weeks | ||
| 117 | Las Vegas, NV | 58% | 40 weeks | ||
| 118 | Manchester, NH | 57% | 40 weeks | ||
| 119 | San Antonio, TX | 52% | 37 weeks | ||
| 120 | Phoenix, AZ (Downtown) | 57% | 40 weeks | ||
| 121 | Albany, NY | 61% | 45 weeks | ||
| 122 | Springfield, MO | 40% | 36 weeks | ||
| 123 | Baltimore, MD | 60% | 43 weeks | ||
| 124 | Buffalo, NY | 53% | 38 weeks | ||
| 125 | Springfield, MA | 61% | 48 weeks | ||
| 126 | Middlesboro, KY | 42% | 36 weeks | ||
| 127 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | 51% | 38 weeks | ||
| 128 | Kansas City, MO | 56% | 41 weeks | ||
| 129 | Moreno Valley, CA | 54% | 39 weeks | ||
| 130 | Wichita | 57% | 41 weeks | ||
| 131 | Milwaukee, WI | 51% | 38 weeks | ||
| 132 | Minneapolis, MN | 52% | 39 weeks | ||
| 133 | Norfolk, VA | 55% | 41 weeks | ||
| 134 | San Diego, CA | 58% | 43 weeks | ||
| 135 | Phoenix, AZ (North) | 60% | 50 weeks | ||
| 136 | St. Louis, MO | 51% | 38 weeks | ||
| 137 | Memphis, TN | 55% | 42 weeks | ||
| 138 | Macon, GA | 46% | 38 weeks | ||
| 139 | Orland Park, IL | 43% | 37 weeks | ||
| 140 | New York, NY | 58% | 50 weeks | ||
| 141 | Albuquerque, NM | 49% | 39 weeks | ||
| 142 | Richmond, VA | 45% | 38 weeks | ||
| 143 | Charlottesville, VA | 42% | 37 weeks | ||
| 144 | Newark, NJ | 55% | 44 weeks | ||
| 145 | Knoxville, TN | 48% | 39 weeks | ||
| 146 | Bronx, NY | 55% | 45 weeks | ||
| 147 | Chicago, IL | 55% | 45 weeks | ||
| 148 | San Francisco, CA | 46% | 39 weeks | ||
| 149 | Chicago, IL | 54% | 43 weeks | ||
| 150 | New Orleans, LA | 49% | 40 weeks | ||
| 151 | Seattle, WA | 55% | 47 weeks | ||
| 152 | Stockton, CA | 44% | 39 weeks | ||
| 153 | Boston, MA | 54% | 45 weeks | ||
| 154 | Wilkes-Barre | 45% | 40 weeks | ||
| 155 | Pittsburgh, PA | 49% | 41 weeks | ||
| 156 | Philadelphia, PA (East) | 51% | 43 weeks | ||
| 157 | New Haven, CT | 47% | 41 weeks | ||
| 158 | Harrisburg, PA | 43% | 40 weeks | ||
| 159 | Colorado Springs, CO | 34% | 41 weeks | ||
| 160 | Albuquerque, NM | 45% | 46 weeks | ||
| 161 | Baltimore, MD | 46% | 51 weeks | ||
| 162 | St. Louis, MO | 45% | 51 weeks |
Data sourced from the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of Hearings Operations. The performance score is calculated by ClaimsBoost — a composite of decision speed and approval rate.
What Is an SSA Hearing Office?
An SSA hearing office — formally known as an Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) field office — is where your Social Security disability appeal is decided after an initial denial. Each of the 162 hearing offices is staffed by Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) who independently review medical evidence, hear testimony from claimants and vocational experts, and issue written decisions on whether a claimant qualifies for SSDI or SSI benefits.
When you request a hearing, your case is assigned to the hearing office serving your geographic area. An ALJ at that office holds a formal hearing — usually video or in person — where you and your representative can present new medical evidence, explain your condition, and answer questions. After the hearing, the judge issues a written decision, which SSA mails to you and your representative.
Why Your Hearing Office Determines the Outcome
The office assigned to your case directly affects how long you wait for a decision and how likely you are to be approved. Approval rates can vary by 30 percentage points or more from one office to another, and wait times range from under 8 months to well over a year. The judge assigned to your case matters too — even within the same office, individual ALJ approval rates can differ dramatically.
If you're waiting for a hearing or considering an appeal, knowing what to expect from your office can help you prepare. A free benefits review takes two minutes and can help you understand your options.
Dealing with disability or injury? Get your free benefits review.
