Orland Park Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Illinois · SSA Region 05
Approval Rate
46.8%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
8 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
257 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
1,918
awaiting hearing
ALJs
6
active judges
Orland Park 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gregory Smith | 57.4% | 42.6% | 46.1% | 564 | 679 |
| David R Bruce | 55.5% | 44.5% | 50.4% | 508 | 584 |
| Karen Sayon | 45.7% | 54.3% | 41.2% | 420 | 502 |
| Michael Hellman | 40.2% | 59.8% | 34.5% | 174 | 201 |
| Janet Akers | 24.5% | 75.5% | 15.7% | 375 | 443 |
| Kathleen Kadlec | 13.3% | 86.7% | 6.6% | 346 | 448 |
Former Judges at Orland Park
These judges have no recorded decisions at Orland Park 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Pendola | July 2025 | 87.5% | 287 |
| Deborah M Giesen | January 2025 | 20.7% | 304 |
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 Orland Park Social Security Hearing Office
Orland Park is a Social Security disability hearing office serving claimants in Illinois. Operating within SSA Region 05, the office has 6 ALJs who preside over disability appeals.
The office's average approval rate is 46.8%, which is below the national average of 57.6%. A lower aggregate rate does not necessarily indicate stricter standards — it may reflect differences in case demographics, representation quality, or the types of conditions presented at hearings. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 13.3% to 57.4%, a 44-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 257 days. There are currently 1,918 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 320 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 32.4%. 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 Orland Park Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Orland Park, 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 257 days average processing time, claimants at Orland Park can expect a total timeline of roughly 17 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Orland Park have collectively issued 2,387 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 398 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 174 to 564 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Orland Park Hearing Office FAQ
What are my chances of approval at Orland Park?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 13.3% to 57.4%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 32.4%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Who are the Administrative Law Judges at Orland Park?
How long do disability cases take at Orland Park?
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 percentage of approvals at Orland Park are fully favorable?
How does Orland Park rank among other hearing offices in the state?
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