Who decides cases at this office
The Shreveport panel of 5 judges shows a moderate spread in outcomes, with individual allowance rates ranging from 55% to 82%. While the median rate sits at 62%, the variation across the panel means that which judge you draw can influence the tone and focus of your hearing. Cases are assigned randomly, and each judge weighs medical evidence differently, so your preparation must be thorough enough to satisfy the requirements of any judge on the panel.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mary Abbondondelo | 79% | 26,871 | |
| 2 | Samuel Thomason | 65% | 6,075 | |
| 3 | Grant Dail | 61% | 6,376 | |
| 4 | John Antonowicz | 46% | 29,391 | |
| 5 | Charlotte A. Wright | 43% | 22,019 | |
| 6 | Charles R. Lindsay | 42% | 12,524 | |
| 7 | W. Thomas Bundy | 37% | 3,294 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? Get a free case review to prepare for your upcoming hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At Shreveport, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 9 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 9-month wait is a critical runway to ensure your file is complete before you face an ALJ. Start by gathering all medical records generated since your initial denial, as these provide the most current snapshot of your limitations. You should also maintain a daily log of your symptoms and medication side effects to provide concrete testimony during your hearing. A vocational expert will likely testify about available jobs, and you must be prepared to explain why your specific impairments prevent you from performing those roles. Because the Shreveport panel shows meaningful variation in how they weigh evidence, your file must stand on its own merits. Ensure all evidence is submitted well before the deadline, as last-minute additions are restricted.
With a 9-month wait time, you can use the period before your hearing to pressure-test your medical evidence against the specific standards used by the Shreveport panel. By identifying gaps in your documentation early, you can avoid the common pitfalls that lead to denials even in offices with high allowance rates. This proactive approach helps ensure your case is ready for the hearing room.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Shreveport, 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.