Middlesboro Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Kentucky · SSA Region 04
Approval Rate
63.9%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
9 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
248 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
792
awaiting hearing
ALJs
5
active judges
Middlesboro 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tommye C Mangus | 52.8% | 47.2% | 49.7% | 161 | 175 |
| Stacy Gray | 52.6% | 47.4% | 47.4% | 19 | 19 |
| Todd Spangler | 50.5% | 49.5% | 45.4% | 97 | 106 |
| Stacy Appleton | 39.6% | 60.4% | 35% | 508 | 587 |
| David S Lewandowski | 20% | 80% | 20% | 5 | 6 |
About the Middlesboro Social Security Hearing Office
Middlesboro is a Social Security disability hearing office serving claimants in Kentucky. Operating within SSA Region 04, the office has 5 ALJs who preside over disability appeals.
The office's average approval rate is 63.9%, which is above the national average of 57.6%. Several factors may contribute to this rate, including the types of cases filed in this region and the level of legal representation at hearings. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 20% to 52.8%, a 33-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 248 days. There are currently 792 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 158 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 39.5%. 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 Middlesboro Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Middlesboro, 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 248 days average processing time, claimants at Middlesboro can expect a total timeline of roughly 17 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Middlesboro have collectively issued 790 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 158 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 5 to 508 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Middlesboro Hearing Office FAQ
What is the approval rate at Middlesboro?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 20% to 52.8%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 39.5%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at Middlesboro?
How long is the wait time at Middlesboro?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 17 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 Middlesboro?
How does Middlesboro compare to other 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.