Who decides cases at this office
The panel at Houston West exhibits a wide spread in allowance rates, with outcomes varying across the 11 judges. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge, and each one weighs evidence through a different lens. This variation makes it essential to prepare a case that is robust enough to succeed even with a judge who historically approves fewer claims.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helen F. Strong | 72% | 23,184 | |
| 2 | Laura Bach | 68% | 25,066 | |
| 3 | Timothy Suing | 63% | 15,002 | |
| 4 | David L. Knowles | 56% | 16,292 | |
| 5 | Robert N. Burdette | 55% | 31,350 | |
| 6 | Richard A. Gilbert | 51% | 33,280 | |
| 7 | Solomon Boyle | 50% | 16,977 | |
| 8 | Thomas G. Norman | 48% | 1,422 | |
| 9 | Kimani R. Eason | 44% | 29,057 | |
| 10 | Vincent Bennett | 42% | 19,474 | |
| 11 | Caroline H. Beers | 42% | 26,400 | |
| 12 | Kelly Matthews | 35% | 23,831 | |
| 13 | Michelle Whetsel | 29% | 18,555 | |
| 14 | Susan J. Soddy | 10% | 2,565 |
Former & transferred judges
SSA rosters change as judges retire, transfer, or move to national assignments. These judges previously decided Social Security disability cases from this location but are not on the current roster. Their full public decision records are on their profiles.
How long you'll wait
At Houston West, 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
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 7-month wait window is your most valuable asset for strengthening your claim. Submit all updated medical records, medication lists with side effects, and daily-activity logs well before the evidence-submission deadline. During your hearing, you will likely face questions from the ALJ and a vocational expert regarding your ability to perform past or alternative work. Because the judge will weigh your testimony against the medical evidence, ensure your records clearly document the functional limitations that prevent you from maintaining full-time employment. A well-organized file is the best defense against the uncertainty of the hearing process.
When a panel's allowance rates span 50 points, your file must be strong enough that no judge can dismiss it due to weak documentation. Identifying gaps in your medical evidence and preparing for the specific questions a vocational expert might ask can help you navigate the nuances of the Houston West panel.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Houston West, 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.