Official SSA Data

Norwalk Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

California · SSA Region 09

Approval Rate

66.1%

vs 58.3% national

Wait Time

7 months

vs 8 months national

Processing Time

247 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

805

awaiting hearing

ALJs

5

active judges

Norwalk 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
Tom Duann 73.8% 26.2% 68.7% 294 335
James P Nguyen 71% 29% 68.2% 314 370
James Carberry 62.6% 37.4% 55.8% 369 456
Paul Coulter 56.6% 43.4% 47.9% 267 322
Cynthia A Minter 50% 50% N/A 2 2

About the Norwalk Social Security Hearing Office

Norwalk is a Social Security disability hearing office serving claimants in California. Operating within SSA Region 09, the office has 5 ALJs who preside over disability appeals.

The office's average approval rate is 66.1%, which is above the national average of 58.3%. Several factors may contribute to this rate, including the types of cases filed in this region and the level of legal representation at hearings. Judge approval rates at this office range from 50% to 73.8%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 7 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 247 days. There are currently 805 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 161 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 48.1%. 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 Norwalk Hearing Office Data

Norwalk 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 7 months and 247 days average processing time, claimants at Norwalk can expect a total timeline of roughly 15 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Norwalk have collectively issued 1,246 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 249 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 2 to 369 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Norwalk Hearing Office FAQ

What is the approval rate at Norwalk?
The average ALJ approval rate at Norwalk is 66.1% for FY 2025. This rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions.

Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 50% to 73.8%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 48.1%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Which judges hear cases at Norwalk?
The Norwalk office has 5 administrative law judges. Of these, 4 have issued 50 or more decisions in FY 2025. Decision counts range from 2 to 369 in the current fiscal year. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long is the wait time at Norwalk?
The current average wait time at Norwalk is 7 months. This is shorter than the national average of 8 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 247 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 15 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?
This office has faster-than-average wait times at 7 months. Office statistics are calculated by aggregating individual judge decision data. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. All statistics are drawn from publicly available SSA disposition data, updated periodically as new fiscal year reports become available.
What is the fully favorable rate at Norwalk?
When a judge issues a fully favorable ruling, benefits begin from the claimant's requested onset date. A partially favorable ruling still awards benefits but may adjust the onset to a later date, which affects retroactive payments. The approval rate combines both outcome types. At Norwalk, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 48.1%.
How does Norwalk compare to other offices in the state?
Of the 17 hearing offices in California, Norwalk ranks 3 of 17 with an approval rate of 66.1%. In terms of wait time, Norwalk ranks 1 of 17 (7 months). Visit the California overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.