Birmingham Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Alabama · SSA Region 04
Approval Rate
49.3%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
8 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
249 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
2,371
awaiting hearing
ALJs
8
active judges
Birmingham 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Waller | 85.7% | 14.3% | 71.4% | 7 | 11 |
| Brian Turner | 76.6% | 23.4% | 70.8% | 462 | 532 |
| Monica D Jackson | 56.4% | 43.6% | 45.3% | 408 | 477 |
| Emilie Kraft | 55.2% | 44.8% | 47.2% | 464 | 549 |
| Lisa M Johnson | 43.1% | 56.9% | 36.9% | 371 | 434 |
| Mary E Helmer | 40.4% | 59.6% | 34.6% | 428 | 504 |
| Clarence Guthrie | 39.2% | 60.8% | 29.2% | 551 | 654 |
| George W. Merchant | 36% | 64% | 31.6% | 503 | 603 |
Former Judges at Birmingham
These judges have no recorded decisions at Birmingham 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ronald Reeves | April 2025 | 61.6% | 203 |
| Renee B Satisfield | April 2025 | 47.7% | 260 |
| William Lawson | March 2025 | 78.2% | 294 |
| Sheila E McDonald | March 2025 | 51% | 243 |
| Cynthia W Brown | December 2024 | 56.1% | 271 |
| Jerome L Munford | November 2024 | 39.3% | 173 |
| Renee B Hagler | April 2024 | 45% | 111 |
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 Birmingham Social Security Hearing Office
Claimants in the Birmingham service area have their Social Security disability appeals heard at this office, one of the hearing locations in Alabama. The office is assigned to SSA Region 04 and has 8 active ALJs.
The office's average approval rate is 49.3%, which is below the national average of 57.6%. This rate is shaped by the interplay of case characteristics, local representation patterns, and individual judge decision tendencies. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 36% to 85.7%, a 50-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 8 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 249 days. There are currently 2,371 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 296 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 45.9%. 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 Birmingham Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Birmingham, thorough case preparation is especially important. Since judge assignments are rotational, the specific ALJ assigned to a case is not known in advance — ensuring medical evidence and vocational documentation are comprehensive can help regardless of which judge presides.
With an average wait time of 8 months and 249 days average processing time, claimants at Birmingham can expect a total timeline of roughly 16 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Birmingham have collectively issued 3,194 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 399 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 7 to 551 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Birmingham Hearing Office FAQ
What is the approval rate at Birmingham?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 36% to 85.7%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 45.9%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at Birmingham?
How long is the wait time at Birmingham?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 16 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?
What is the fully favorable rate at Birmingham?
How does Birmingham compare to other offices in the state?
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