McAlester Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Oklahoma · SSA Region 06
Approval Rate
50.9%
vs 58.3% national
Wait Time
8 months
vs 8 months national
Processing Time
261 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
490
awaiting hearing
ALJs
3
active judges
McAlester 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David W Engel | 62.5% | 37.5% | 43.8% | 16 | 21 |
| J. Leland Bentley | 55.7% | 44.3% | 52.5% | 305 | 351 |
| Michael Mannes | 47.3% | 52.7% | 35% | 366 | 414 |
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 50.9%, which is below the national average of 58.3%. This rate is shaped by the interplay of case characteristics, local representation patterns, and individual judge decision tendencies. Judge approval rates at this office range from 47.3% to 62.5%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 8 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 261 days. There are currently 490 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 163 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 43.8%. 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 McAlester Hearing Office Data
McAlester 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 months and 261 days average processing time, claimants at McAlester can expect a total timeline of roughly 17 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at McAlester have collectively issued 687 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 229 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 16 to 366 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
McAlester Hearing Office FAQ
What is the approval rate at McAlester?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 47.3% to 62.5%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 43.8%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Which judges hear cases at McAlester?
How long is the wait time at McAlester?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 17 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.