Who decides cases at this office
The panel at this office consists of 6 judges with a moderate spread in their allowance rates, ranging from 47% to 72%. While the median rate of 54% provides a baseline, the variation across the panel means that which judge you draw can influence the outcome of your case. Because assignments are random, your best strategy is to build a file that is robust enough to meet the evidentiary standards of any judge on the panel.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jonathan P. Baird | 73% | 26,902 | |
| 2 | Timothy Belford | 59% | 26,112 | |
| 3 | Anthony Dziepak | 56% | 25,726 | |
| 4 | Brian Curley | 54% | 8,948 | |
| 5 | John Benson | 49% | 21,862 | |
| 6 | Ellen P. Bush | 46% | 23,503 | |
| 7 | Patricia M. French | 42% | 4,162 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? Get a free case review to prepare for your upcoming hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At Lawrence, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 10 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
With a 10-month wait, you have a significant runway to strengthen your file before you appear before an ALJ. Your most critical task is submitting updated medical records that address the specific limitations cited in your initial denial. Beyond clinical notes, prepare a daily-activity log that details how your condition impacts your ability to perform basic tasks. During your hearing, a Vocational Expert will likely testify about jobs that fit your residual functional capacity. You will have the opportunity to question this expert, which is often the turning point of the proceeding. Ensure all evidence is submitted well before the deadline, as last-minute additions are restricted. A final decision will arrive by mail after your hearing concludes.
A 10-month wait is time you can use to pressure-test your file against the specific vocational questions you will face. When a panel's allowance rates span 25 points, your documentation must be precise enough to withstand scrutiny regardless of who presides. Represented claimants are statistically more likely to succeed at this stage because they enter the room with a clear theory of their case.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Lawrence, 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.