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Cincinnati Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Ohio · SSA Region 05

Approval Rate

56.1%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

7 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

243 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,913

awaiting hearing

ALJs

5

active judges

Cincinnati 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
Cristen Meadows 74% 26% 67.4% 438 503
Lloyd Hubler 64.1% 35.9% 60.5% 167 233
Christopher Tindale 46.8% 53.2% 42.1% 380 458
Thuy Anh Nguyen 39.4% 60.6% 34.4% 340 428
Jessica Hodgson 34.8% 65.2% 28.4% 405 511

Former Judges at Cincinnati

These judges have no recorded decisions at Cincinnati 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
Anne Shaughnessy June 2025 57.4% 401
John M Prince April 2025 82.6% 287

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 Cincinnati Social Security Hearing Office

Cincinnati is a Social Security disability hearing office serving claimants in Ohio. Operating within SSA Region 05, the office has 5 ALJs who preside over disability appeals.

The office's average approval rate is 56.1%, which is near the national average of 57.6%. Being close to the national average suggests this office's case mix and decision patterns are broadly representative of the system as a whole. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 34.8% to 74%, a 39-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 7 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 243 days. There are currently 1,913 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 383 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 46.6%. 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 Cincinnati Hearing Office Data

Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Cincinnati, 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 7 months and 243 days average processing time, claimants at Cincinnati can expect a total timeline of roughly 15 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Cincinnati have collectively issued 1,730 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 346 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 167 to 438 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Cincinnati Hearing Office FAQ

What is the approval rate at Cincinnati?
The average ALJ approval rate at Cincinnati is 56.1% 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 34.8% to 74%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 46.6%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at Cincinnati?
The Cincinnati office has 5 administrative law judges. Decision counts range from 167 to 438 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long is the wait time at Cincinnati?
The current average wait time at Cincinnati is 7 months. This is shorter than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 243 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 15 months. These wait time figures represent the latest available snapshot and may fluctuate as hearing volumes and judge availability change over time.
How is office data calculated?
This office has faster-than-average wait times at 7 months. Office statistics are calculated by aggregating individual judge decision data. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. All statistics are drawn from publicly available SSA disposition data, updated periodically as new fiscal year reports become available.
What is the fully favorable rate at Cincinnati?
When a judge issues a fully favorable ruling, benefits begin from the claimant's requested onset date. A partially favorable ruling still awards benefits but may adjust the onset to a later date, which affects retroactive payments. The approval rate combines both outcome types. At Cincinnati, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 46.6%.
How does Cincinnati compare to other offices in the state?
Of the 6 hearing offices in Ohio, Cincinnati ranks 4 of 6 with an approval rate of 56.1%. In terms of wait time, Cincinnati ranks 1 of 6 (7 months). Visit the Ohio overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

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