Who decides cases at this office
The panel of 8 judges at this office shows a moderate spread in outcomes, with individual allowance rates ranging from 43% to 70%. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, and each weighs evidence differently. This variation makes it essential to build a robust, objective case that stands on its own merits regardless of which judge presides over your hearing.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laura Chess | 63% | 29,159 | |
| 2 | JoErin O'Leary | 63% | 27,689 | |
| 3 | Adam Dale | 58% | 19,789 | |
| 4 | Mara-Louise Anzalone | 58% | 1,097 | |
| 5 | Manh H. Nguyen | 56% | 25,443 | |
| 6 | Mikel Lupisella | 55% | 23,640 | |
| 7 | Jeffrey Raeber | 55% | 21,049 | |
| 8 | Sean McKee | 31% | 1,559 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? Get a free case review to prepare for your hearing date.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At MT. Pleasant, 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
Hearings in MT. Pleasant move at a steady pace, giving you 7 months to ensure your medical records are complete. You must submit all new evidence well before your hearing date. During the proceeding, you will sit before an Administrative Law Judge while a vocational expert testifies about available work. Your prep should focus on a detailed daily-activity log and a current list of medications and their side effects. If you have statements from former coworkers or family members regarding your physical or mental limitations, include them in your file. The ALJ will weigh this evidence against the vocational expert's testimony to determine if you meet SSDI eligibility requirements.
Hearings at this office come up in 7 months, leaving little room for error once your date is set. Even with a 66% allowance rate, cases often fail when they do not anticipate the vocational expert's questions regarding transferable skills. Focusing on your specific work history and medical limitations is the most effective way to prepare for the hearing.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at MT. Pleasant, 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.