All SSA Administrative Law Judges — Approval Rates and Decision Counts

What Is an SSA Administrative Law Judge?

Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) at the Social Security Administration's Office of Hearings Operations are the federal officials who decide disability appeals. When your initial SSDI or SSI claim is denied, your appeal is assigned to an ALJ at the hearing office serving your area. That judge independently reviews your medical evidence, holds a hearing where you and your representative can present testimony, questions a vocational expert about jobs you could still perform, and issues a written decision on whether you qualify for benefits.

Each ALJ has their own style, pace, and tendencies. Some weigh objective medical evidence heavily; others give significant weight to claimant testimony about daily activities. Over a career, these differences show up as measurable variation in allowance rates — some judges approve 80%+ of cases while others approve under 30%. Unlike the office you're assigned to, you cannot request a specific judge.

Why Individual Judge Stats Matter

The judge assigned to your case is one of the strongest predictors of the outcome. The same case evidence can produce a favorable decision from one ALJ and a denial from another at the same office. Knowing an individual judge's historical approval rate, fully favorable rate, and typical hearing style lets you and your attorney prepare testimony, line up medical evidence, and anticipate cross-examination in a way tailored to that specific judge.

If you have a hearing scheduled, a free benefits review takes two minutes and can help you understand your options — especially whether representation is worth the contingency fee (capped by SSA at 25% of back pay or $9,200, whichever is less).