Los Angeles West Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
California · SSA Region 09
Approval Rate
62.5%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
9 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
288 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
2,162
awaiting hearing
ALJs
7
active judges
Los Angeles West 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisa B. Martin | 100% | N/A | 100% | 1 | 2 |
| Elizabeth R. Lishner | 78% | 22% | 71.4% | 241 | 286 |
| Gail Reich | 75.9% | 24.1% | 72.4% | 377 | 474 |
| Robin Rosenbluth | 69.3% | 30.7% | 61.1% | 355 | 424 |
| Richard Breen | 46.7% | 53.3% | 37.9% | 396 | 498 |
| Sally C. Reason | 41% | 59% | 36.5% | 315 | 443 |
| Timothy Suing | N/A | 100% | N/A | 1 | 1 |
About the Los Angeles West Social Security Hearing Office
Los Angeles West is a Social Security disability hearing office serving claimants in California. Operating within SSA Region 09, the office has 7 ALJs who preside over disability appeals.
The office's average approval rate is 62.5%, which is near the national average of 57.6%. Being close to the national average suggests this office's case mix and decision patterns are broadly representative of the system as a whole. 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 8.4 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 288 days. There are currently 2,162 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 309 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 54.2%. 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 West Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Los Angeles West, 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 288 days average processing time, claimants at Los Angeles West can expect a total timeline of roughly 19 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Los Angeles West have collectively issued 1,686 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 241 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 1 to 396 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Los Angeles West Hearing Office FAQ
What is the approval rate at Los Angeles West?
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 54.2%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at Los Angeles West?
How long is the wait time at Los Angeles West?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 19 months. These wait time figures represent the latest available snapshot and may fluctuate as hearing volumes and judge availability change over time.
How is office data calculated?
What is the fully favorable rate at Los Angeles West?
How does Los Angeles West compare to other offices in the state?
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