Who decides cases at this office
The panel at this office consists of 9 judges whose allowance rates vary, ranging from 34% to 80%. This spread means that which judge you draw can have an impact on your hearing outcome. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, making it essential to prepare a case that addresses the evidentiary standards of the entire panel.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Andrews | 70% | 25,286 | |
| 2 | Henry Hamilton | 68% | 27,510 | |
| 3 | John Priester | 68% | 19,039 | |
| 4 | John E. Sandbothe | 68% | 22,043 | |
| 5 | Matthew J. Gordon | 63% | 24,840 | |
| 6 | Julie K. Bruntz | 53% | 11,944 | |
| 7 | John P. Mills III | 50% | 20,328 | |
| 8 | Michael L. Larner | 48% | 22,107 | |
| 9 | Kim A. Fields | 38% | 29,127 | |
| 10 | Erin T. Schmidt | 37% | 18,332 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? Get a free case review to prepare for your hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At Des Moines, 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.
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
Your hearing in Des Moines is a formal proceeding where you testify under oath before an Administrative Law Judge. With a 7-month wait, you have a runway to ensure your medical records are complete and up to date. You must submit any new evidence well before the hearing date, as late filings are often restricted. During the session, a Vocational Expert will likely testify regarding your ability to perform work in the national economy. You should be prepared to discuss your daily limitations, medication side effects, and any work history that supports your claim. Because the panel here shows a wide range of allowance rates, your file must be strong enough to stand on its own regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
When a panel's allowance rates span 46 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. An attorney who understands the local panel can help you identify the specific medical evidence needed to bridge the gap between your current record and the requirements of the Social Security Administration. This preparation ensures your testimony aligns with the vocational evidence required for a favorable decision.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Des Moines, 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.