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Official SSA Data

Denver Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Colorado · SSA Region 08

Approval Rate

58.9%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

8 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

248 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

2,549

awaiting hearing

ALJs

9

active judges

Denver 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
Terrence Hugar 84.6% 15.4% 76.6% 325 381
Sasha Kurbegov 76.4% 23.6% 65.6% 250 296
Jeffrey N. Holappa 59.9% 40.1% 51.8% 369 444
Jennifer B Millington 58.5% 41.5% 50.7% 335 404
Shane McGovern 57.4% 42.6% 40.2% 204 235
Erin Justice 56.3% 43.7% 50.3% 517 600
Debra Denney 55.2% 44.8% 38.2% 346 418
Rebecca Lariccia 45.4% 54.6% 34.8% 414 494
Michael S. Kidd N/A 100% N/A 2 2

Former Judges at Denver

These judges have no recorded decisions at Denver 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
Lynn Ginsberg December 2024 65.7% 283
Kathleen Laub December 2023 34% 53

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 Denver Social Security Hearing Office

Denver is a Social Security disability hearing office serving claimants in Colorado. Operating within SSA Region 08, the office has 9 ALJs who preside over disability appeals.

The office's average approval rate is 58.9%, 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. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 0% to 84.6%, a 85-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.

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 248 days. There are currently 2,549 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 283 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 45.4%. 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 Denver Hearing Office Data

Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Denver, 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 8 months and 248 days average processing time, claimants at Denver can expect a total timeline of roughly 16 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Denver have collectively issued 2,762 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 307 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 2 to 517 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Denver Hearing Office FAQ

How often are disability cases approved at Denver?
The average ALJ approval rate at Denver is 58.9% 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 0% to 84.6%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 45.4%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
How many ALJs work at Denver?
The Denver office has 9 administrative law judges. Of these, 8 have issued 50 or more decisions in the 12 months ending July 2026. Decision counts range from 2 to 517 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
What is the average case processing time at Denver?
The current average wait time at Denver is 8 months. This is shorter than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 248 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 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 Denver 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 Denver, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 45.4%.
Is Denver's approval rate higher or lower than nearby offices?
Of the 2 hearing offices in Colorado, Denver has the highest approval rate at 58.9%. In terms of wait time, Denver ranks 2 of 2 (8 months). Visit the Colorado overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

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