Official SSA Data

Miami Oho Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Florida · SSA Region 04

Approval Rate

65.8%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

8 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

250 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

2,582

awaiting hearing

ALJs

35

active judges

Miami Oho 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
Grant Dail 100% N/A 100% 3 3
Stephanie M Jones 100% N/A 100% 3 3
R. Dirk Selland 100% N/A 100% 1 1
Trevor Skarda 100% N/A 100% 4 4
John A Thawley 100% N/A 100% 2 2
James Cole Cartledge 96.3% 3.7% 93.2% 323 365
Gonzalo Vallecillo 85.7% 14.3% 57.1% 7 7
Scott Firestone 80% 20% 80% 5 5
Sonya Grounds 80% 20% 80% 5 5
Christopher Messina 79.2% 20.8% 62.5% 24 33
Carol J. Pennock 78.5% 21.5% 73.8% 107 140
Philip Healy 75% 25% 75% 4 4
Brian Jones 75% 25% 75% 8 8
Norman Hemming 73.4% 26.6% 71.3% 327 412
Andrew Dixon III 72.7% 27.3% 45.5% 11 11
Vincent Hill 72.7% 27.3% 45.5% 11 11
Rebecca Wolfe 71.5% 28.5% 57% 414 502
Stacy Gray 66.7% 33.3% 66.7% 3 3
Angel X Viera Vargas 66.7% 33.3% 66.7% 3 3
Clara H Aranda 63.3% 36.7% 57.4% 430 524
Elizabeth Degruy 62.5% 37.5% 62.5% 8 8
Gracian A. Celaya 51.4% 48.6% 41.9% 370 452
Tracey B. Leibowitz 51.4% 48.6% 43.2% 484 592
Ryan Alger 50% 50% 50% 4 4
Robert Droker 50% 50% 33.3% 6 6
Brandie Hall 50% 50% 50% 6 6
Jennifer Pustizzi 50% 50% 37.5% 32 48
Robert Rideout 50% 50% 50% 2 2
Lornette Reynolds 48.3% 51.7% 32% 406 500
Stephen Pope 25% 75% 25% 4 4
Robert B Bowling 16.7% 83.3% N/A 6 6
Michael Finnie N/A 100% N/A 6 6
Walter Cary Herin N/A 100% N/A 1 1
Camille Monahan N/A 100% N/A 6 6
Cynthia Weaver N/A 100% N/A 6 6

About the Miami Oho Social Security Hearing Office

The Miami Oho hearing office is part of the Social Security Administration's Office of Hearings Operations in Florida. This office is in SSA Region 04 and currently has 35 administrative law judges who hear disability appeals. With 35 ALJs, this is one of the larger hearing offices in the system, handling a substantial volume of disability cases each fiscal year.

The office's average approval rate is 65.8%, which is above the national average of 57.6%. This higher-than-average rate reflects the combined decision patterns of all judges at this office. 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 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 2,582 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 74 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 55.2%. 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 Miami Oho Hearing Office Data

Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Miami Oho, 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 Miami Oho can expect a total timeline of roughly 16 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Miami Oho have collectively issued 3,042 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 87 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 1 to 484 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Miami Oho Hearing Office FAQ

How often are disability cases approved at Miami Oho?
The average ALJ approval rate at Miami Oho is 65.8% 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 100%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 55.2%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
How many ALJs work at Miami Oho?
The Miami Oho office has 35 administrative law judges. Of these, 8 have issued 50 or more decisions in the 12 months ending July 2026. Decision counts range from 1 to 484 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
What is the average case processing time at Miami Oho?
The current average wait time at Miami Oho is 8 months. This is shorter 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 16 months. Wait times are snapshots from the most recent SSA data release and can shift as caseloads, staffing, and scheduling capacity change.
How is office data calculated?
With 35 judges handling cases, this is one of the larger hearing offices. Office statistics are calculated by aggregating individual judge decision data. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. Data originates from SSA public use files and is refreshed as new reports are published throughout the fiscal year.
How often do judges at Miami Oho issue fully favorable decisions?
A fully favorable decision means the claimant is awarded benefits starting from the onset date they originally claimed. A partially favorable decision also awards benefits, but may set a later onset date than requested. Both types count toward the overall approval rate. The distinction is important because onset date determines how far back retroactive benefits extend. At Miami Oho, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 55.2%.
Is Miami Oho's approval rate higher or lower than nearby offices?
Of the 8 hearing offices in Florida, Miami Oho ranks 3 of 8 with an approval rate of 65.8%. In terms of wait time, Miami Oho ranks 1 of 8 (8 months). Visit the Florida 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.