Kingsport Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Tennessee · SSA Region 04
Approval Rate
59.4%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
7 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
232 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
2,143
awaiting hearing
ALJs
8
active judges
Kingsport 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gentry C.m. Hogan | 77.5% | 22.5% | 75.4% | 138 | 151 |
| Keith C Pilkey | 68.6% | 31.4% | 60.9% | 535 | 599 |
| Charles R. Howard | 63.2% | 36.8% | 57.9% | 522 | 609 |
| John A. Pottinger | 61.9% | 38.1% | 57.8% | 486 | 542 |
| Mary M. Renfroe | 56.8% | 43.2% | 54.1% | 220 | 256 |
| Benjamin Burton | 44.5% | 55.5% | 39% | 290 | 349 |
| Robin Barber | 42.8% | 57.2% | 39.3% | 346 | 398 |
| Brian Battles | 30.8% | 69.2% | 23.5% | 422 | 521 |
Former Judges at Kingsport
These judges have no recorded decisions at Kingsport 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evans III. | January 2025 | 55.3% | 197 |
| Carolyn Keen | December 2024 | 45.6% | 366 |
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 Kingsport Social Security Hearing Office
The Kingsport hearing office is part of the Social Security Administration's Office of Hearings Operations in Tennessee. This office is in SSA Region 04 and currently has 8 administrative law judges who hear disability appeals.
The office's average approval rate is 59.4%, 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. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 30.8% to 77.5%, a 47-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.
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 232 days. There are currently 2,143 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 268 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 51.0%. 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 Kingsport Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Kingsport, 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 7 months and 232 days average processing time, claimants at Kingsport can expect a total timeline of roughly 15 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Kingsport have collectively issued 2,959 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 370 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 138 to 535 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Kingsport Hearing Office FAQ
How often are disability cases approved at Kingsport?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 30.8% to 77.5%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 51.0%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
How many ALJs work at Kingsport?
What is the average case processing time at Kingsport?
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?
How often do judges at Kingsport issue fully favorable decisions?
Is Kingsport's approval rate higher or lower than nearby offices?
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