Chicago Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Illinois · SSA Region 05
Approval Rate
53.7%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
9 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
297 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
3,211
awaiting hearing
ALJs
10
active judges
Chicago 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Logan | 69.8% | 30.2% | 58.6% | 324 | 417 |
| Brian Saame | 68.6% | 31.4% | 57.1% | 105 | 135 |
| Carla Suffi | 65.1% | 34.9% | 55.4% | 381 | 446 |
| Kathryn Bridges | 61.7% | 38.3% | 46.7% | 60 | 81 |
| Mary Ann Poulose | 60.6% | 39.4% | 52.1% | 71 | 83 |
| David Skidmore | 56.8% | 43.2% | 49.4% | 338 | 413 |
| Bill Laskaris | 53.7% | 46.3% | 30.3% | 380 | 471 |
| Margaret A Carey | 48.2% | 51.8% | 25.1% | 371 | 434 |
| Jordan Garelick | 41.4% | 58.6% | 36.2% | 365 | 429 |
| Nathan Mellman | 41.4% | 58.6% | 30.7% | 348 | 431 |
Former Judges at Chicago
These judges have no recorded decisions at Chicago 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonny S Barezky | March 2025 | 77.2% | 303 |
| Laurie Wardell | May 2024 | 41.9% | 198 |
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 Chicago Social Security Hearing Office
Claimants in the Chicago service area have their Social Security disability appeals heard at this office, one of the hearing locations in Illinois. The office is assigned to SSA Region 05 and has 10 active ALJs. With 10 ALJs, this is one of the larger hearing offices in the system, handling a substantial volume of disability cases each fiscal year.
The office's average approval rate is 53.7%, 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 41.4% to 69.8%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 9 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 297 days. There are currently 3,211 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 321 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 Chicago Hearing Office Data
Chicago 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 9 months and 297 days average processing time, claimants at Chicago can expect a total timeline of roughly 19 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Chicago have collectively issued 2,743 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 274 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 60 to 381 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Chicago Hearing Office FAQ
What is the approval rate at Chicago?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 41.4% to 69.8%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 44.2%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at Chicago?
How long is the wait time at Chicago?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 19 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 Chicago?
How does Chicago compare to other offices in the state?
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