Official SSA Data

Huntington WV Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

West Virginia · SSA Region 03

Approval Rate

49%

vs 58.3% national

Wait Time

9 months

vs 8 months national

Processing Time

308 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,314

awaiting hearing

ALJs

4

active judges

Huntington WV 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
Melinda Wells 57.1% 42.9% 52.5% 219 270
Maria Hodges 51.5% 48.5% 42.2% 464 520
Christina Hajjar 51.1% 48.9% 40.7% 413 485
Jerry Meade 33.7% 66.3% 31% 258 317

About the Huntington WV Social Security Hearing Office

The Social Security Administration operates the Huntington WV hearing office in West Virginia as part of its Office of Hearings Operations. Located in SSA Region 03, 4 Administrative Law Judges conduct disability hearings at this location.

The office's average approval rate is 49%, which is below the national average of 58.3%. Multiple factors influence this outcome including the mix of cases heard, claimant demographics, and variations in how evidence is presented at hearings. Judge approval rates at this office range from 33.7% to 57.1%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 9 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 308 days. There are currently 1,314 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 329 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 41.6%. 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 Huntington WV Hearing Office Data

Huntington WV 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 9 months and 308 days average processing time, claimants at Huntington WV can expect a total timeline of roughly 19 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Huntington WV have collectively issued 1,354 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 339 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 219 to 464 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Huntington WV Hearing Office FAQ

How often are disability cases approved at Huntington WV?
The average ALJ approval rate at Huntington WV is 49% for FY 2025. This rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions.

Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 33.7% to 57.1%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 41.6%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
How many ALJs work at Huntington WV?
The Huntington WV office has 4 administrative law judges. Decision counts range from 219 to 464 in the current fiscal year. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
What is the average case processing time at Huntington WV?
The current average wait time at Huntington WV is 9 months. This is longer than the national average of 8 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 308 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 19 months. Wait time averages reflect the most recently reported SSA data and will evolve as new disposition reports are released.
How is office data calculated?
Office statistics are calculated by aggregating individual judge decision data. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. Source data comes from the Social Security Administration's public reporting on ALJ decisions, which we incorporate as updates are released.
How often do judges at Huntington WV issue fully favorable decisions?
"Fully favorable" means the claimant receives benefits effective from their originally claimed onset date. "Partially favorable" also grants benefits but may start them from a later date. Both decisions are counted as approvals in the statistics. The onset date difference can significantly affect the total retroactive benefit amount. At Huntington WV, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 41.6%.
Is Huntington WV's approval rate higher or lower than nearby offices?
Of the 3 hearing offices in West Virginia, Huntington WV has the lowest approval rate at 49%. In terms of wait time, Huntington WV ranks 2 of 3 (9 months). Visit the West Virginia overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.