Fort Wayne Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Indiana · SSA Region 05
Approval Rate
57.5%
vs 58.3% national
Wait Time
6.5 months
vs 8 months national
Processing Time
221 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
1,046
awaiting hearing
ALJs
5
active judges
Fort Wayne 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terry Miller | 69.3% | 30.7% | 62.6% | 401 | 449 |
| Alice F Blackmore | 62.4% | 37.6% | 51.8% | 85 | 108 |
| Stephanie Katich | 58.7% | 41.3% | 51% | 208 | 246 |
| William D Pierson | 56.6% | 43.4% | 48.1% | 401 | 463 |
| Meredith L Jacques | 39.4% | 60.6% | 29.3% | 99 | 121 |
About the Fort Wayne Social Security Hearing Office
The Social Security Administration operates the Fort Wayne hearing office in Indiana as part of its Office of Hearings Operations. Located in SSA Region 05, 5 Administrative Law Judges conduct disability hearings at this location.
The office's average approval rate is 57.5%, which is near the national average of 58.3%. This figure combines both fully favorable and partially favorable outcomes from all judges at the office. Judge approval rates at this office range from 39.4% to 69.3%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 6.5 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 221 days. There are currently 1,046 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 209 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 48.6%. 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 Wayne Hearing Office Data
Fort Wayne 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 6.5 months and 221 days average processing time, claimants at Fort Wayne can expect a total timeline of roughly 14 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Fort Wayne have collectively issued 1,194 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 239 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 85 to 401 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Fort Wayne Hearing Office FAQ
What is the approval rate at Fort Wayne?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 39.4% to 69.3%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 48.6%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Which judges hear cases at Fort Wayne?
How long is the wait time at Fort Wayne?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 14 months. Wait time averages reflect the most recently reported SSA data and will evolve as new disposition reports are released.