Who decides cases at this office
The panel at this office shows a moderate spread, with allowance rates for active judges ranging from 51% to 72%. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, and each one weighs evidence through their own lens. This variation makes it essential to prepare a file that is strong enough to stand up to any judge on the panel.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stephen Bosch | 71% | 10,298 | |
| 2 | Sandra H. Morales-Rosa | 69% | 6,117 | |
| 3 | Howard Wishnoff | 61% | 22,748 | |
| 4 | Michele Lazzaro | 56% | 5,194 | |
| 5 | Susannah Merritt | 49% | 17,468 | |
| 6 | Bettye L. Rutledge | 49% | 7,403 | |
| 7 | Nycole Watson | 43% | 21,532 | |
| 8 | Charlie M. Johnson | 40% | 16,145 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? See if you qualify for representation before your hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At Philadelphia East, the average wait from hearing request to written decision is 8 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 an 8-month wait, you have time to build a robust file that addresses the specific limitations identified by your doctors. Your hearing will involve an ALJ reviewing your testimony and the findings of a Vocational Expert. This expert will testify on whether jobs exist that fit your residual functional capacity, and you or your attorney will have the opportunity to question their conclusions. Ensure you bring updated medical records, a detailed list of medications and their side effects, and a log of your daily activities. Because evidence submission deadlines are strict, you must finalize your documentation well before the hearing date.
When a panel's allowance rates span over 20 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it on weak documentation. Many claimants spend their 8-month wait simply hoping for a favorable outcome, while represented claimants use that time to proactively address gaps in their medical history. An attorney who understands the nuances of the Philadelphia East panel can help you build a case that anticipates the questions you will face under oath.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Philadelphia East, 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.