Official SSA Data

Long Beach Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

California · SSA Region 09

Approval Rate

57.7%

vs 58.3% national

Wait Time

9 months

vs 8 months national

Processing Time

312 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

687

awaiting hearing

ALJs

8

active judges

Long Beach 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
Michelle Thompson 100% N/A 66.7% 3 3
Marc A Yerkey 66.9% 33.1% 63.1% 260 321
Cynthia Floyd 65.3% 34.7% 54.8% 303 371
Joseph Marcee 55.5% 44.5% 51.2% 164 179
Kimberly M Gallegos 50% 50% 35.7% 98 116
D. Coburn 31.1% 68.9% 19.3% 373 452
Michael S Hertzig N/A 100% N/A 3 3
Williams JR. N/A N/A N/A N/A 1

About the Long Beach Social Security Hearing Office

The Social Security Administration operates the Long Beach hearing office in California as part of its Office of Hearings Operations. Located in SSA Region 09, 8 Administrative Law Judges conduct disability hearings at this location.

The office's average approval rate is 57.7%, 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. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 0% to 100%, a 100-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.

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 312 days. There are currently 687 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 86 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 41.5%. 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 Long Beach Hearing Office Data

Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Long Beach, 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 9 months and 312 days average processing time, claimants at Long Beach can expect a total timeline of roughly 19 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Long Beach have collectively issued 1,204 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 151 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 3 to 373 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Long Beach Hearing Office FAQ

What is the approval rate at Long Beach?
The average ALJ approval rate at Long Beach is 57.7% for FY 2025. This rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions.

Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 0% to 100%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 41.5%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Which judges hear cases at Long Beach?
The Long Beach office has 8 administrative law judges. Of these, 5 have issued 50 or more decisions in FY 2025. Decision counts range from 3 to 373 in the current fiscal year. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long is the wait time at Long Beach?
The current average wait time at Long Beach is 9 months. This is longer than the national average of 8 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 312 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.
What is the fully favorable rate at Long Beach?
"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 Long Beach, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 41.5%.
How does Long Beach compare to other offices in the state?
Of the 17 hearing offices in California, Long Beach ranks 12 of 17 with an approval rate of 57.7%. In terms of wait time, Long Beach ranks 9 of 17 (9 months). Visit the California overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.