Los Angeles Downtown Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
California · SSA Region 09
Approval Rate
58.3%
vs 58.3% national
Wait Time
8.5 months
vs 8 months national
Processing Time
350 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
822
awaiting hearing
ALJs
4
active judges
Los Angeles Downtown 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 | 79.9% | 20.1% | 76.2% | 189 | 225 |
| Sigrid Irias | 63.5% | 36.5% | 55.5% | 375 | 427 |
| Sung Park | 54.8% | 45.2% | 48.2% | 334 | 400 |
| Evelyn M Gunn | 54.7% | 45.3% | 47.8% | 203 | 260 |
About the Los Angeles Downtown Social Security Hearing Office
The Social Security Administration operates the Los Angeles Downtown hearing office in California as part of its Office of Hearings Operations. Located in SSA Region 09, 4 Administrative Law Judges conduct disability hearings at this location.
The office's average approval rate is 58.3%, 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 54.7% to 79.9%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 8.5 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 350 days. There are currently 822 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 206 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 56.9%. 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 Los Angeles Downtown Hearing Office Data
Los Angeles Downtown 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 8.5 months and 350 days average processing time, claimants at Los Angeles Downtown can expect a total timeline of roughly 20 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Los Angeles Downtown have collectively issued 1,101 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 275 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 189 to 375 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Los Angeles Downtown Hearing Office FAQ
What are my chances of approval at Los Angeles Downtown?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 54.7% to 79.9%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 56.9%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Who are the Administrative Law Judges at Los Angeles Downtown?
How long do disability cases take at Los Angeles Downtown?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 20 months. Wait time averages reflect the most recently reported SSA data and will evolve as new disposition reports are released.