Who decides cases at this office
The Billings panel features a wide spread in allowance rates, meaning the judge you draw can impact your outcome. With rates ranging from 31% to 77%, the panel does not rule with uniform consistency. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, but you can prepare for the possibility of drawing a more stringent one by ensuring your medical documentation is airtight.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jessica H. Pugrud | 70% | 2,856 | |
| 2 | Tanya Dvarishkis | 69% | 26,137 | |
| 3 | John C. Arkoosh | 64% | 6,365 | |
| 4 | John Kays | 63% | 30,485 | |
| 5 | Richard A. Opp | 62% | 12,619 | |
| 6 | Brian J. Henry | 55% | 5,570 | |
| 7 | Russell B. Wolff | 52% | 2,576 | |
| 8 | Luke A. Brennan | 51% | 31,810 | |
| 9 | Stephen Marchioro | 45% | 22,742 | |
| 10 | Michael A. Kilroy | 45% | 18,230 | |
| 11 | Michele M. Kelley | 32% | 19,943 | |
| 12 | Lloyd E. Hartford | 32% | 3,890 | |
| 13 | Christopher R. Inama | 31% | 14,703 | |
| 14 | Henry Kramzyk | 31% | 24,220 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? Get a free case review to prepare for your hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At Billings, 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 an opportunity to refine the evidence presented to the ALJ. Start by gathering all medical records generated since your initial denial, as these are the most critical pieces of evidence. Prepare a detailed log of your daily activities and a list of side effects from your medications. During your hearing, a Vocational Expert will likely testify about jobs that fit your physical or mental limitations. You and your attorney will have the chance to question this expert to clarify why your specific impairments prevent you from maintaining gainful employment. Ensure all evidence is submitted well before the deadline, as last-minute additions are restricted. A final decision will arrive by mail after the hearing concludes.
When a panel's allowance rates span 46 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. Many claimants spend their 9-month wait simply hoping for a favorable outcome, but a qualified attorney uses that time to pressure-test your file against the specific standards of the Social Security Administration. By identifying gaps in your medical record early, you can enter your hearing with a strategy designed to survive the scrutiny of any judge on the panel.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Billings, 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.