Dover Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Delaware · SSA Region 03
Approval Rate
64.7%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
8 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
247 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
1,027
awaiting hearing
ALJs
3
active judges
Dover 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Reeves | 64.8% | 35.2% | 57.5% | 398 | 465 |
| Steven Butler | 64.5% | 35.5% | 61.7% | 420 | 507 |
| Bernadette Reiling | 42% | 58% | 32.1% | 243 | 295 |
About the Dover Social Security Hearing Office
Claimants in the Dover service area have their Social Security disability appeals heard at this office, one of the hearing locations in Delaware. The office is assigned to SSA Region 03 and has 3 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 64.7%, which is above the national average of 57.6%. This rate emerges from the aggregate of individual judge decisions and should be understood in the context of local case demographics and representation patterns. Judge approval rates at this office range from 42% to 64.8%, 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 247 days. There are currently 1,027 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 342 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 50.4%. 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 Dover Hearing Office Data
Dover 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 247 days average processing time, claimants at Dover can expect a total timeline of roughly 16 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Dover have collectively issued 1,061 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 354 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 243 to 420 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Dover Hearing Office FAQ
How often are disability cases approved at Dover?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 42% to 64.8%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 50.4%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
How many ALJs work at Dover?
What is the average case processing time at Dover?
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?
How often do judges at Dover issue fully favorable decisions?
ALJ Statistics: Powered by Chronicle
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