ALJ Statistics powered by Chronicle
Official SSA Data

McAlester Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Oklahoma · SSA Region 06

Approval Rate

58.7%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

10 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

250 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

331

awaiting hearing

ALJs

3

active judges

McAlester 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
J. Leland Bentley 65.5% 34.5% 65.5% 29 38
Michael Mannes 47.4% 52.6% 26.3% 38 46
David Engel N/A 100% N/A 1 3

Former Judges at McAlester

This judge has no recorded decisions at McAlester 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
Gabbard II. December 2023 31% 84

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 McAlester Social Security Hearing Office

Claimants in the McAlester service area have their Social Security disability appeals heard at this office, one of the hearing locations in Oklahoma. The office is assigned to SSA Region 06 and has 3 active ALJs. As a smaller office, caseload is concentrated among fewer judges, which means individual judge statistics have a more pronounced effect on overall office outcomes.

The office's average approval rate is 58.7%, which is near the national average of 57.6%. The rate aligns with national patterns, though individual judges at this office may vary above or below this average. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 0% to 65.5%, a 66-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 10 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 331 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 110 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 30.6%. A fully favorable decision awards benefits from the claimant's requested onset date, while a partially favorable decision may set a later onset date. Both count toward the overall approval rate.

How to Interpret McAlester Hearing Office Data

Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at McAlester, 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 10 months and 250 days average processing time, claimants at McAlester can expect a total timeline of roughly 18 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at McAlester have collectively issued 68 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 23 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 1 to 38 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

McAlester Hearing Office FAQ

What is the approval rate at McAlester?
The average ALJ approval rate at McAlester is 58.7% for the 12 months ending July 2026. This rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions.

Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 0% to 65.5%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 30.6%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at McAlester?
The McAlester office has 3 administrative law judges. Decision counts range from 1 to 38 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long is the wait time at McAlester?
The current average wait time at McAlester is 10 months. This is longer than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 250 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 18 months. Note that wait times are point-in-time estimates from SSA reporting and may vary from month to month based on case volume and staffing changes.
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. These figures rely on SSA's publicly released disposition records, which are processed and incorporated into our database as each reporting cycle concludes.
What is the fully favorable rate at McAlester?
A fully favorable outcome awards benefits from the date the claimant first alleged disability. A partially favorable outcome also results in an award but may recognize a later onset date, reducing retroactive benefits. In the approval rate shown here, both types of favorable decisions are included. At McAlester, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 30.6%.
How does McAlester compare to other offices in the state?
Of the 3 hearing offices in Oklahoma, McAlester has the lowest approval rate at 58.7%. In terms of wait time, McAlester ranks 3 of 3 (10 months). Visit the Oklahoma overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

ALJ Statistics: Powered by Chronicle

Chronicle monitors the ERE daily so disability attorneys never miss a document, questionnaire, or hearing notice. Trusted by 100+ law firms as their virtual SSA mailroom software.

Learn More

Continue Exploring

Oklahoma Offices All Offices All Judges Methodology