Colorado Springs Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Colorado · SSA Region 08
Approval Rate
34.7%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
7 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
281 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
1,256
awaiting hearing
ALJs
4
active judges
Colorado Springs 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kurt D. Schuman | 71% | 29% | 45.2% | 31 | 37 |
| Bryan Henry | 48.2% | 51.8% | 36% | 436 | 516 |
| Matthew C. Kawalek | 35% | 65% | 18.4% | 472 | 531 |
| Diane S. Davis | 15.2% | 84.8% | 7.3% | 369 | 435 |
Former Judges at Colorado Springs
These judges have no recorded decisions at Colorado Springs 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debra L Boudreau | April 2025 | 60.9% | 335 |
| Kathryn D Burgchardt | March 2024 | 52.9% | 155 |
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 Colorado Springs Social Security Hearing Office
The Colorado Springs hearing office is part of the Social Security Administration's Office of Hearings Operations in Colorado. This office is in SSA Region 08 and currently has 4 administrative law judges who hear disability appeals.
The office's average approval rate is 34.7%, which is below the national average of 57.6%. Approval rates are influenced by many factors including case mix, quality of representation, and individual judge decision-making patterns. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 15.2% to 71%, a 56-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 281 days. There are currently 1,256 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 314 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 26.7%. The overall approval rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions. A partially favorable decision may award benefits from a later onset date than the claimant originally requested.
How to Interpret Colorado Springs Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Colorado Springs, 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 281 days average processing time, claimants at Colorado Springs can expect a total timeline of roughly 16 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Colorado Springs have collectively issued 1,308 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 327 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 31 to 472 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Colorado Springs Hearing Office FAQ
What are my chances of approval at Colorado Springs?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 15.2% to 71%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 26.7%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Who are the Administrative Law Judges at Colorado Springs?
How long do disability cases take at Colorado Springs?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 16 months. Wait times are snapshots from the most recent SSA data release and can shift as caseloads, staffing, and scheduling capacity change.
How is office data calculated?
What percentage of approvals at Colorado Springs are fully favorable?
How does Colorado Springs rank among other hearing offices in the state?
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