Who decides cases at this office
The panel of 9 judges at the Toledo office displays a wide spread in outcomes, with individual allowance rates ranging from 20% to 87%. Because cases are assigned randomly, the judge you draw can impact your hearing experience. Each judge weighs medical evidence and vocational testimony differently, so your case must be prepared to stand on its own merits regardless of the specific ALJ presiding.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gabrielle R. Vitellio | 75% | 19,526 | |
| 2 | Earl Ashford | 51% | 29,731 | |
| 3 | Noceeba Southern | 50% | 28,367 | |
| 4 | Meredith L. Jacques | 47% | 7,448 | |
| 5 | Patricia Carey | 46% | 26,929 | |
| 6 | Carrie Kerber | 46% | 27,185 | |
| 7 | Dianne S. Mantel | 46% | 25,597 | |
| 8 | Richard Horowitz | 45% | 12,185 | |
| 9 | Paul Sher | 44% | 25,679 | |
| 10 | Terry M. Banks | 37% | 12,316 | |
| 11 | Kathleen Winters | 31% | 21,496 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? See if you qualify for representation before your hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At Toledo, 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 Toledo center on your ability to perform work-related tasks. You must bring valid identification and any medical records generated since your last denial, as these are the most critical pieces of new evidence. A vocational expert will likely testify about whether jobs exist for someone with your specific limitations, and you or your attorney will have the opportunity to question them. Because the panel of 9 judges at this office shows significant variation in their approval rates, your file must be complete well before the hearing date. Evidence submission deadlines are strict, so ensure your medical history and daily-activity logs are filed early. The ALJ will not issue a decision on the spot; you will receive a written notice by mail several weeks after the proceedings conclude.
When a panel's allowance rates span over 60 points, your file has to be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. An attorney who understands the tendencies of the Toledo panel can help you identify gaps in your medical record that might otherwise lead to a denial. Before you walk into the hearing, evaluate your case with a professional to ensure your evidence is ready for the specific scrutiny of an ALJ.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Toledo, 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.