Who decides cases at this office
The ALJ panel in Philadelphia shows a moderate spread in outcomes, with individual allowance rates ranging from 44% to 69%. While the median rate of 60% suggests a consistent baseline, the variation means that which judge you draw can influence the nuances of your hearing. Judges are assigned randomly, and each weighs evidence differently, so your preparation must focus on creating a record that is clear and persuasive to any member of the panel.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jonathan L. Wesner | 77% | 10,098 | |
| 2 | John M. Fitzpatrick | 74% | 1,780 | |
| 3 | Jon C. Lyons | 70% | 14,543 | |
| 4 | Eric W. Borda | 70% | 27,040 | |
| 5 | Janice C. Volkman | 67% | 1,976 | |
| 6 | Joseph M. Hillegas | 66% | 3,676 | |
| 7 | Richard A. Kelly | 63% | 2,923 | |
| 8 | Regina L. Warren | 51% | 22,831 | |
| 9 | Christine McCafferty | 49% | 26,082 | |
| 10 | Nadine Overton | 48% | 3,539 | |
| 11 | Owen B. Katzman | 48% | 2,526 | |
| 12 | Robert J. Ryan | 45% | 21,933 | |
| 13 | Jessica M. Johnson | 41% | 15,145 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? Get a free case review to prepare for your upcoming hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At Philadelphia, 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 valuable opportunity to ensure your medical records are current and comprehensive. Your hearing will typically involve an ALJ and a vocational expert who will testify regarding your ability to perform specific jobs. You must submit all new evidence well before the hearing date, as last-minute additions are restricted. Bring your identification and a clear, updated list of your medications and their side effects. You should also be prepared to discuss your daily-activity log, as this helps the judge understand your real-world limitations. Because the panel features a moderate spread in allowance rates, your file must be strong enough to stand on its own regardless of which judge is assigned to your case.
A 10-month wait is time you can use to pressure-test your file against the vocational expert's likely testimony. When a panel's allowance rates span 25 points, your documentation must be precise enough to leave little room for subjective interpretation. Focusing on objective medical findings helps ensure your case remains consistent regardless of the specific judge assigned.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Philadelphia, 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.