Des Moines Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Iowa · SSA Region 07
Approval Rate
52.8%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
7.5 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
238 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
2,392
awaiting hearing
ALJs
8
active judges
Des Moines 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Hamilton | 84.5% | 15.5% | 66.9% | 142 | 164 |
| Matthew Gordon | 66.2% | 33.8% | 55.5% | 474 | 552 |
| John Priester | 56.7% | 43.3% | 41.5% | 513 | 567 |
| Michael Larner | 56.2% | 43.8% | 53.9% | 406 | 486 |
| John P Mills III | 50.6% | 49.4% | 41.5% | 176 | 198 |
| Kim Fields | 39.8% | 60.2% | 28.9% | 515 | 620 |
| Erin T. Schmidt | 36.3% | 63.7% | 24.8% | 432 | 517 |
| Michael S. Kidd | N/A | 100% | N/A | 2 | 2 |
Former Judges at Des Moines
These judges have no recorded decisions at Des Moines 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| John E Sandbothe | December 2024 | 67% | 188 |
| Tom Andrews | November 2024 | 77.9% | 398 |
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 Des Moines Social Security Hearing Office
The Des Moines hearing office is part of the Social Security Administration's Office of Hearings Operations in Iowa. This office is in SSA Region 07 and currently has 8 administrative law judges who hear disability appeals.
The office's average approval rate is 52.8%, which is near the national average of 57.6%. This rate represents the aggregate of all judge decisions at the office and includes both fully favorable and partially favorable outcomes. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 0% to 84.5%, 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 7.5 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 238 days. There are currently 2,392 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 299 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 39.1%. A fully favorable decision awards benefits from the claimant's requested onset date, while a partially favorable decision may set a later onset date. Both count toward the overall approval rate.
How to Interpret Des Moines Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Des Moines, 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 7.5 months and 238 days average processing time, claimants at Des Moines can expect a total timeline of roughly 15 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Des Moines have collectively issued 2,660 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 333 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 2 to 515 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Des Moines Hearing Office FAQ
How often are disability cases approved at Des Moines?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 0% to 84.5%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 39.1%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
How many ALJs work at Des Moines?
What is the average case processing time at Des Moines?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 15 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?
How often do judges at Des Moines issue fully favorable decisions?
ALJ Statistics: Powered by Chronicle
Chronicle monitors the ERE daily so disability attorneys never miss a document, questionnaire, or hearing notice. Trusted by 100+ law firms as their virtual SSA mailroom software.