Social Security Disability ALJ Statistics & Approval Rates
Comprehensive data on 1,194 Administrative Law Judges across 173 hearing offices nationwide. SSA data through July 2026.
National Approval Rate
57.6%
12 months ending July 2026 average
Average Wait Time
8.4 months
Until hearing held
Processing Time
267 days
Average time to decision
Total Dispositions
426,563
12 months ending July 2026 to date
Understanding ALJ Statistics
Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) are federal judges who preside over Social Security Disability hearings. When an initial disability claim is denied and subsequent appeals at the reconsideration level are unsuccessful, claimants have the right to request a hearing before an ALJ.
ALJ approval rates vary significantly—from under 40% to over 90%—depending on the judge, hearing office location, and case characteristics. Understanding these statistics can help disability attorneys and claimants set realistic expectations for their cases.
Important: Past approval rates do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is decided on its individual merits based on the evidence presented and applicable law.
Browse by State
View all states →Highest Approval Rate Judges (12 months ending July 2026)
Judges with at least 100 decisions in the 12 months ending July 2026, ranked by approval rate.
| Judge | Office | Approval Rate | Decisions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitfield Haigler JR. | Dallas North Oho | 98.2% | 273 |
| James Cole Cartledge | Miami Oho | 96.7% | 461 |
| Jan Leventer | Detroit | 94.2% | 414 |
| D Burgess Stalley | Mobile | 93.3% | 179 |
| Margaret M Sullivan | Tacoma | 92.8% | 416 |