Columbia MO Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Missouri · SSA Region 07
Approval Rate
58.9%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
8 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
241 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
586
awaiting hearing
ALJs
2
active judges
Columbia MO 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerardo Pico | 62.1% | 37.9% | 49.6% | 240 | 273 |
| Vicky Ruth | 57.2% | 42.8% | 43.3% | 418 | 509 |
Former Judges at Columbia MO
This judge has no recorded decisions at Columbia MO 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kellie Campbell | April 2025 | 63.5% | 395 |
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 Columbia MO Social Security Hearing Office
Claimants in the Columbia MO service area have their Social Security disability appeals heard at this office, one of the hearing locations in Missouri. The office is assigned to SSA Region 07 and has 2 active ALJs. As a smaller office, caseload is concentrated among fewer judges, which means individual judge statistics have a more pronounced effect on overall office outcomes.
The office's average approval rate is 58.9%, 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 57.2% to 62.1%, indicating relatively consistent decision patterns across the bench.
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 241 days. There are currently 586 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 293 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 46.5%. 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 Columbia MO Hearing Office Data
The relatively consistent decision patterns across judges at Columbia MO can give claimants and their representatives a clearer sense of what to expect. This consistency suggests that case-level factors — strength of medical evidence, quality of representation, and vocational circumstances — are likely the primary drivers of outcomes at this office.
With an average wait time of 8 months and 241 days average processing time, claimants at Columbia MO can expect a total timeline of roughly 16 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Columbia MO have collectively issued 658 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 329 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 240 to 418 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Columbia MO Hearing Office FAQ
What is the approval rate at Columbia MO?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 57.2% to 62.1%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 46.5%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at Columbia MO?
How long is the wait time at Columbia MO?
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 Columbia MO?
How does Columbia MO compare to other offices in the state?
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