Nhc Albuquerque Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
New Mexico · SSA Region 12
Approval Rate
48.3%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
18 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
317 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
291
awaiting hearing
ALJs
6
active judges
Nhc Albuquerque 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Carr | 66.7% | 33.3% | 33.3% | 3 | 9 |
| Marykay Rauenzahn | 57.4% | 42.6% | 51.5% | 101 | 113 |
| Katie H Pierce | 49.5% | 50.5% | 42.6% | 101 | 117 |
| Barry O'melinn | 46.6% | 53.4% | 41.7% | 343 | 425 |
| Joyce Frost Wolf | 46.3% | 53.7% | 29.3% | 311 | 386 |
| Deborah J Van Vleck | 40.4% | 59.6% | 32.8% | 314 | 400 |
Former Judges at Nhc Albuquerque
This judge has no recorded decisions at Nhc Albuquerque 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| John W Rolph | March 2025 | 61.7% | 269 |
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 Nhc Albuquerque Social Security Hearing Office
The Nhc Albuquerque hearing office is part of the Social Security Administration's Office of Hearings Operations in New Mexico. This office is in SSA Region 12 and currently has 6 administrative law judges who hear disability appeals.
The office's average approval rate is 48.3%, which is below the national average of 57.6%. Approval rates are influenced by many factors including case mix, quality of representation, and individual judge decision-making patterns. Judge approval rates at this office range from 40.4% to 66.7%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 18 months, which is longer than the national average of 8.4 months. Longer wait times can reflect higher caseload volume relative to available judges. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 317 days. There are currently 291 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 49 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 38.5%. 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 Nhc Albuquerque Hearing Office Data
Nhc Albuquerque 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 18 months and 317 days average processing time, claimants at Nhc Albuquerque can expect a total timeline of roughly 29 months from hearing request to decision. This longer-than-average wait underscores the importance of having complete medical evidence ready well before the hearing date.
Judges at Nhc Albuquerque have collectively issued 1,173 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 196 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 3 to 343 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Nhc Albuquerque Hearing Office FAQ
How often are disability cases approved at Nhc Albuquerque?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 40.4% to 66.7%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 38.5%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
How many ALJs work at Nhc Albuquerque?
What is the average case processing time at Nhc Albuquerque?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 29 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?
How often do judges at Nhc Albuquerque issue fully favorable decisions?
Is Nhc Albuquerque's approval rate higher or lower than nearby offices?
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