Who decides cases at this office
The 7 judges at this office have a wide range of allowance rates, from 50% to 92%. Because cases are assigned randomly, you cannot choose your judge. This variation means you should prepare your case to be as clear and evidence-based as possible to ensure it meets the standards of any judge on the panel.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Donna L. Walker | 78% | 30,190 | |
| 2 | Lori L. Freund | 73% | 25,220 | |
| 3 | Caroline Siderius | 70% | 12,620 | |
| 4 | Stewart Stallings | 62% | 23,761 | |
| 5 | R. J. Payne | 55% | 12,942 | |
| 6 | Jesse K. Shumway | 51% | 30,307 | |
| 7 | Marie Palachuk | 48% | 27,681 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? See if you qualify for representation before your hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At Spokane, 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 time to organize your medical records and ensure your file is complete. During your hearing, the judge will review your medical history and may consult a vocational expert to determine your ability to work. You should submit all updated medical records and daily-activity logs well before the evidence-submission deadline. Because judge allowance rates at this office vary from 50% to 92%, your file must be comprehensive enough to support your claim regardless of which judge is assigned. The judge will not issue a decision at the hearing; you will receive your notice by mail.
When allowance rates across a panel span 42 percentage points, the quality of your documentation becomes the deciding factor in your case. A well-prepared file helps you navigate the different evidentiary preferences of the judges at this office. Focusing on clear, objective medical evidence is the most effective way to build your case.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Spokane, 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.