Fort Myers FL Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Florida · SSA Region 04
Approval Rate
67.8%
vs 58.3% national
Wait Time
8 months
vs 8 months national
Processing Time
248 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
600
awaiting hearing
ALJs
3
active judges
Fort Myers FL ALJ Approval Rates and Decision Statistics
Individual judge statistics for FY 2025. Click any judge to see detailed performance data.
| Judge | Approval Rate | Denial Rate | Fully Favorable | Total Decisions | Dispositions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maria C Northington | 83.3% | 16.7% | 81.3% | 407 | 479 |
| Ryan Johannes | 75.5% | 24.5% | 65.3% | 375 | 447 |
| Raymond Rodgers | 51.1% | 48.9% | 48.5% | 515 | 606 |
About the Fort Myers FL Social Security Hearing Office
The Fort Myers FL hearing office is part of the Social Security Administration's Office of Hearings Operations in Florida. This office is in SSA Region 04 and currently has 3 administrative law judges who hear disability appeals. 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 67.8%, which is above the national average of 58.3%. 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 51.1% to 83.3%, a 32-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 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 248 days. There are currently 600 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 200 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 65.0%. 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 Fort Myers FL Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Fort Myers FL, 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 Fort Myers FL can expect a total timeline of roughly 16 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Fort Myers FL have collectively issued 1,297 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 432 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 375 to 515 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Fort Myers FL Hearing Office FAQ
How often are disability cases approved at Fort Myers FL?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 51.1% to 83.3%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 65.0%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
How many ALJs work at Fort Myers FL?
What is the average case processing time at Fort Myers FL?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 16 months. Wait times are snapshots from the most recent SSA data release and can shift as caseloads, staffing, and scheduling capacity change.