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Columbus Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Ohio · SSA Region 05

Approval Rate

58.6%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

8 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

262 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

2,049

awaiting hearing

ALJs

7

active judges

Columbus 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
Kimberly Cromer 72.9% 27.1% 66.5% 373 456
Matthew Winfrey 68.5% 31.5% 57.9% 337 402
Patrick M. Horan 64.6% 35.4% 59.3% 243 298
Jeffrey Hartranft 62.9% 37.1% 58% 367 445
Jason P. Tepley 56.7% 43.3% 49.8% 418 507
Thomas Wang 55.9% 44.1% 43.6% 204 258
Jeannine Lesperance 51.8% 48.2% 48.7% 224 300

Former Judges at Columbus

These judges have no recorded decisions at Columbus 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
Irma J Flottman January 2025 72.3% 350
Deborah F Sanders January 2025 47.7% 65
Paul E Yerian January 2025 49.1% 169

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 Columbus Social Security Hearing Office

Columbus 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 58.6%, 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. Judge approval rates at this office range from 51.8% to 72.9%, showing a moderate degree of variation 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 262 days. There are currently 2,049 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 54.8%. 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 Columbus Hearing Office Data

Columbus 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 8 months and 262 days average processing time, claimants at Columbus can expect a total timeline of roughly 17 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Columbus have collectively issued 2,166 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 309 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 204 to 418 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Columbus Hearing Office FAQ

How often are disability cases approved at Columbus?
The average ALJ approval rate at Columbus is 58.6% 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 51.8% to 72.9%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 54.8%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
How many ALJs work at Columbus?
The Columbus office has 7 administrative law judges. Decision counts range from 204 to 418 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
What is the average case processing time at Columbus?
The current average wait time at Columbus is 8 months. This is shorter than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 262 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 17 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 8 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.
How often do judges at Columbus issue fully favorable decisions?
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 Columbus, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 54.8%.
Is Columbus's approval rate higher or lower than nearby offices?
Of the 6 hearing offices in Ohio, Columbus ranks 2 of 6 with an approval rate of 58.6%. In terms of wait time, Columbus ranks 5 of 6 (8 months). Visit the Ohio overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

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