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Akron OH Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Ohio · SSA Region 05

Approval Rate

56.4%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

7.5 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

236 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

2,393

awaiting hearing

ALJs

7

active judges

Akron OH ALJ Approval Rates and Decision Statistics

Individual judge statistics for 12 months ending July 2026. Click any judge to see detailed performance data.

Judge Approval Rate Denial Rate Fully Favorable Total Decisions Dispositions
Mary Lohr 61.8% 38.2% 53.1% 414 500
Michael Balter 61.6% 38.4% 51.4% 471 551
Charles Shinn 58% 41.8% 55.7% 517 603
Sharlee Cendrosky 50.9% 49.1% 40.4% 448 549
Jason Panek 48.9% 51.1% 41.3% 450 544
Gregory M. Beatty 41% 59% 35.2% 105 127
Michael F. Schmitz 38.3% 61.7% 32.1% 467 535

Former Judges at Akron OH

These judges have no recorded decisions at Akron OH in the 12 months ending July 2026. Figures below cover each judge's own last twelve reported months, ending in the month shown.

Judge Last Decisions Reported Approval Rate Total Decisions
Reuben Sheperd March 2024 45% 191
Susan Smoot December 2023 64% 89

Approval rates here cover each judge's own trailing window ending in the month shown, so they are not directly comparable with the current roster above or with national figures.

About the Akron OH Social Security Hearing Office

Claimants in the Akron OH service area have their Social Security disability appeals heard at this office, one of the hearing locations in Ohio. The office is assigned to SSA Region 05 and has 7 active ALJs.

The office's average approval rate is 56.4%, which is near the national average of 57.6%. The rate aligns with national patterns, though individual judges at this office may vary above or below this average. Judge approval rates at this office range from 38.3% to 61.8%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 7.5 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8.4 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 236 days. There are currently 2,393 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 342 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 44.2%. A fully favorable decision means the claimant receives benefits from the onset date they requested, as opposed to a partially favorable decision which may award benefits from a later date.

How to Interpret Akron OH Hearing Office Data

Akron OH shows a moderate degree of variation across its bench, which is common among offices of this size. While all judges apply the same federal disability standards, differences in how they weigh medical evidence, vocational factors, and hearing testimony may contribute to varying outcomes.

With an average wait time of 7.5 months and 236 days average processing time, claimants at Akron OH can expect a total timeline of roughly 15 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Akron OH have collectively issued 2,872 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 410 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 105 to 517 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Akron OH Hearing Office FAQ

What are my chances of approval at Akron OH?
The average ALJ approval rate at Akron OH is 56.4% for the 12 months ending July 2026. This rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions.

Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 38.3% to 61.8%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 44.2%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Who are the Administrative Law Judges at Akron OH?
The Akron OH office has 7 administrative law judges. Decision counts range from 105 to 517 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long do disability cases take at Akron OH?
The current average wait time at Akron OH is 7.5 months. This is shorter than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 236 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 15 months. Note that wait times are point-in-time estimates from SSA reporting and may vary from month to month based on case volume and staffing changes.
How is office data calculated?
This office has faster-than-average wait times at 7.5 months. Office statistics are calculated by aggregating individual judge decision data. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. These figures rely on SSA's publicly released disposition records, which are processed and incorporated into our database as each reporting cycle concludes.
What percentage of approvals at Akron OH are fully favorable?
A fully favorable outcome awards benefits from the date the claimant first alleged disability. A partially favorable outcome also results in an award but may recognize a later onset date, reducing retroactive benefits. In the approval rate shown here, both types of favorable decisions are included. At Akron OH, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 44.2%.
How does Akron OH rank among other hearing offices in the state?
Of the 6 hearing offices in Ohio, Akron OH ranks 3 of 6 with an approval rate of 56.4%. In terms of wait time, Akron OH ranks 4 of 6 (7.5 months). Visit the Ohio overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

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