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Dayton Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Ohio · SSA Region 05

Approval Rate

71.1%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

9 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

286 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,684

awaiting hearing

ALJs

5

active judges

Dayton 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
Mark Hockensmith 100% N/A 100% 5 5
Heidi Southern 80.6% 19.4% 74.6% 417 485
Kevin Barnes 78.3% 21.7% 75.1% 465 541
Carrie Kerber 58.3% 41.7% 43.5% 444 503
Gregory Kenyon 51.7% 48.3% 45.9% 379 446

Former Judges at Dayton

This judge has no recorded decisions at Dayton 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
Stuart Adkins August 2024 51.4% 313

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 Dayton Social Security Hearing Office

The Dayton hearing office is part of the Social Security Administration's Office of Hearings Operations in Ohio. This office is in SSA Region 05 and currently has 5 administrative law judges who hear disability appeals.

The office's average approval rate is 71.1%, which is above the national average of 57.6%. This higher-than-average rate reflects the combined decision patterns of all judges at this office. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 51.7% to 100%, a 48-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 9 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 286 days. There are currently 1,684 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 337 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 67.8%. 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 Dayton Hearing Office Data

Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Dayton, 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 9 months and 286 days average processing time, claimants at Dayton can expect a total timeline of roughly 19 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Dayton have collectively issued 1,710 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 342 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 5 to 465 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Dayton Hearing Office FAQ

What is the approval rate at Dayton?
The average ALJ approval rate at Dayton is 71.1% 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 51.7% to 100%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 67.8%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at Dayton?
The Dayton office has 5 administrative law judges. Of these, 4 have issued 50 or more decisions in the 12 months ending July 2026. Decision counts range from 5 to 465 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long is the wait time at Dayton?
The current average wait time at Dayton is 9 months. This is longer than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 286 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 19 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?
Office statistics are calculated by aggregating individual judge decision data. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. Data originates from SSA public use files and is refreshed as new reports are published throughout the fiscal year.
What is the fully favorable rate at Dayton?
A fully favorable decision means the claimant is awarded benefits starting from the onset date they originally claimed. A partially favorable decision also awards benefits, but may set a later onset date than requested. Both types count toward the overall approval rate. The distinction is important because onset date determines how far back retroactive benefits extend. At Dayton, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 67.8%.
How does Dayton compare to other offices in the state?
Of the 6 hearing offices in Ohio, Dayton has the highest approval rate at 71.1%. In terms of wait time, Dayton ranks 6 of 6 (9 months). Visit the Ohio overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

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