Madison Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Wisconsin · SSA Region 05
Approval Rate
68.1%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
8 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
250 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
931
awaiting hearing
ALJs
6
active judges
Madison 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Jacobson | 74.2% | 25.8% | 69.5% | 430 | 497 |
| Gary A. Freyberg | 68.8% | 31.2% | 62.4% | 93 | 103 |
| Ahavaha Pyrtel | 64.9% | 35.1% | 52.8% | 356 | 396 |
| Guila Parker | 62.4% | 37.6% | 49.1% | 165 | 183 |
| Michael Schaefer | 56% | 44% | 44% | 50 | 53 |
| Camille Monahan | 28.6% | 71.4% | 28.6% | 7 | 7 |
About the Madison Social Security Hearing Office
The Social Security Administration operates the Madison hearing office in Wisconsin as part of its Office of Hearings Operations. Located in SSA Region 05, 6 Administrative Law Judges conduct disability hearings at this location.
The office's average approval rate is 68.1%, which is above the national average of 57.6%. While above the national benchmark, this figure aggregates decisions across all judges and encompasses both fully and partially favorable outcomes. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 28.6% to 74.2%, a 46-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 8 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 250 days. There are currently 931 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 155 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 51.1%. 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 Madison Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Madison, 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 8 months and 250 days average processing time, claimants at Madison can expect a total timeline of roughly 16 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Madison have collectively issued 1,101 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 184 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 7 to 430 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Madison Hearing Office FAQ
How often are disability cases approved at Madison?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 28.6% to 74.2%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 51.1%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
How many ALJs work at Madison?
What is the average case processing time at Madison?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 16 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?
How often do judges at Madison issue fully favorable decisions?
Is Madison's approval rate higher or lower than nearby offices?
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