ALJ Statistics powered by Chronicle
Official SSA Data

Fort Smith Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Arkansas · SSA Region 06

Approval Rate

57.8%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

8 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

273 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,303

awaiting hearing

ALJs

5

active judges

Fort Smith 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
David Engel 81.8% 18.2% 72.7% 22 27
Elisabeth McGee 63.6% 36.4% 54.1% 473 515
Glenn A Neel 61.3% 38.7% 48.4% 31 31
Bill Jones 55.9% 44.1% 51% 506 560
David Romeo 53.8% 46.2% 42.3% 26 35

Former Judges at Fort Smith

These judges have no recorded decisions at Fort Smith 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
Harold D Davis December 2024 76.4% 403
Edward M Starr October 2023 N/A 2

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 Fort Smith Social Security Hearing Office

Fort Smith is a Social Security disability hearing office serving claimants in Arkansas. Operating within SSA Region 06, the office has 5 ALJs who preside over disability appeals.

The office's average approval rate is 57.8%, 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. Judge approval rates at this office range from 53.8% to 81.8%, 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 273 days. There are currently 1,303 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 261 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 53.7%. 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 Smith Hearing Office Data

Fort Smith 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 273 days average processing time, claimants at Fort Smith can expect a total timeline of roughly 17 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Fort Smith have collectively issued 1,058 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 212 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 22 to 506 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Fort Smith Hearing Office FAQ

What are my chances of approval at Fort Smith?
The average ALJ approval rate at Fort Smith is 57.8% 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 53.8% to 81.8%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 53.7%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Who are the Administrative Law Judges at Fort Smith?
The Fort Smith office has 5 administrative law judges. Of these, 2 have issued 50 or more decisions in the 12 months ending July 2026. Decision counts range from 22 to 506 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long do disability cases take at Fort Smith?
The current average wait time at Fort Smith is 8 months. This is shorter than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 273 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 17 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.
What percentage of approvals at Fort Smith are fully favorable?
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 Fort Smith, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 53.7%.
How does Fort Smith rank among other hearing offices in the state?
Of the 2 hearing offices in Arkansas, Fort Smith has the highest approval rate at 57.8%. In terms of wait time, Fort Smith ranks 1 of 2 (8 months). Visit the Arkansas overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

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.

Learn More

Continue Exploring

Arkansas Offices All Offices All Judges Methodology