Official SSA Data

Fargo Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

North Dakota · SSA Region 08

Approval Rate

62%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

7 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

231 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,510

awaiting hearing

ALJs

4

active judges

Fargo 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
Brenda Rosten 71.3% 28.7% 59% 432 497
Richard Hlaudy 61.5% 38.5% 51.5% 431 511
Chris Stuber 56.4% 43.6% 53.4% 397 479
Christel Ambuehl 54.7% 45.3% 47.1% 172 206

About the Fargo Social Security Hearing Office

The Fargo hearing office is part of the Social Security Administration's Office of Hearings Operations in North Dakota. This office is in SSA Region 08 and currently has 4 administrative law judges who hear disability appeals.

The office's average approval rate is 62%, 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. Judge approval rates at this office range from 54.7% to 71.3%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 7 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 231 days. There are currently 1,510 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 378 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 52.8%. 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 Fargo Hearing Office Data

Fargo 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 7 months and 231 days average processing time, claimants at Fargo can expect a total timeline of roughly 15 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Fargo have collectively issued 1,432 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 358 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 172 to 432 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Fargo Hearing Office FAQ

How often are disability cases approved at Fargo?
The average ALJ approval rate at Fargo is 62% 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 54.7% to 71.3%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 52.8%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
How many ALJs work at Fargo?
The Fargo office has 4 administrative law judges. Decision counts range from 172 to 432 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
What is the average case processing time at Fargo?
The current average wait time at Fargo is 7 months. This is shorter than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 231 days.

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?
This office has faster-than-average wait times at 7 months. 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.
How often do judges at Fargo issue fully favorable decisions?
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 Fargo, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 52.8%.

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