Official SSA Data

Cincinnati Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Ohio · SSA Region 05

Approval Rate

59%

vs 58.3% national

Wait Time

7 months

vs 8 months national

Processing Time

256 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,820

awaiting hearing

ALJs

7

active judges

Cincinnati ALJ Approval Rates and Decision Statistics

Individual judge statistics for FY 2025. Click any judge to see detailed performance data.

Judge Approval Rate Denial Rate Fully Favorable Total Decisions Dispositions
John M Prince 78.4% 21.6% 77.6% 125 162
Cristen Meadows 74.3% 25.7% 65% 428 503
Lloyd Hubler 61.6% 38.4% 55.1% 185 256
Anne Shaughnessy 57% 43% 49.8% 305 360
Christopher S Tindale 50.9% 49.1% 45.1% 397 487
Thuy Anh T Nguyen 42.7% 57.3% 38.7% 351 436
Jessica Hodgson 42.2% 57.8% 34.7% 346 410

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 7 ALJs who preside over disability appeals.

The office's average approval rate is 59%, which is near the national average of 58.3%. 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 42.2% to 78.4%, a 36-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 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 256 days. There are currently 1,820 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 260 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 52.3%. 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 256 days average processing time, claimants at Cincinnati can expect a total timeline of roughly 16 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Cincinnati have collectively issued 2,137 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 305 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 125 to 428 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 59% for FY 2025. This rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions.

Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 42.2% to 78.4%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 52.3%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Which judges hear cases at Cincinnati?
The Cincinnati office has 7 administrative law judges. Decision counts range from 125 to 428 in the current fiscal year. 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 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 256 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 16 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 52.3%.
How does Cincinnati compare to other offices in the state?
Of the 6 hearing offices in Ohio, Cincinnati ranks 2 of 6 with an approval rate of 59%. In terms of wait time, Cincinnati ranks 2 of 6 (7 months). Visit the Ohio overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.