Who decides cases at this office
The panel at this office consists of 4 judges with a moderate spread in allowance rates, ranging from 34% to 57%. Because judges weigh evidence differently, which judge is assigned to your case can influence the outcome. Cases are assigned randomly, so you cannot choose your judge, but a well-prepared file is designed to meet the evidentiary standards of any judge on the panel.
| Rank | Judge | Approval Rate | Total Decisions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christina Hajjar | 56% | 5,897 | |
| 2 | Maria Hodges | 49% | 36,204 | |
| 3 | Melinda Wells | 45% | 19,525 | |
| 4 | Jerry Meade | 38% | 21,955 |
Heading to an ALJ hearing? Get a free case review to prepare for your upcoming hearing.
Free Benefits ReviewHow long you'll wait
At Huntington, 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 a window to ensure your medical file is complete before your hearing date. You should gather all updated medical records, a detailed log of your daily activities, and a list of medications including their specific side effects. The hearing typically lasts 45 to 60 minutes, where an ALJ will preside and a vocational expert will likely testify regarding available work. You will have the opportunity to question the expert, which is often the most critical part of the proceeding. Be aware that evidence submission deadlines are strictly enforced, so do not wait until the last minute to provide new documents. A final decision will arrive by mail several weeks after the hearing concludes.
When a panel's allowance rates span over 20 points, your file must be strong enough to withstand scrutiny regardless of which judge you draw. Many claimants lose their hearing not because they are ineligible, but because they fail to effectively challenge the vocational expert's testimony or leave gaps in their medical history. Preparing your case thoroughly helps you address these gaps and anticipate the specific questions you will face under oath.
Field offices that route cases here
If your hearing is at Huntington, 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.