Pasadena Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
California · SSA Region 09
Approval Rate
66.3%
vs 58.3% national
Wait Time
7 months
vs 8 months national
Processing Time
274 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
1,176
awaiting hearing
ALJs
5
active judges
Pasadena 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbara Dunn | 77.5% | 22.5% | 67.3% | 346 | 416 |
| Ken H Chau | 75.4% | 24.6% | 68.5% | 130 | 162 |
| Ghermann Magana | 68.2% | 31.8% | 52.1% | 409 | 478 |
| Bruce T Cooper | 67.9% | 32.1% | 54.7% | 333 | 397 |
| David Lacy | 52.4% | 47.6% | 48% | 458 | 532 |
About the Pasadena Social Security Hearing Office
The Pasadena hearing office is part of the Social Security Administration's Office of Hearings Operations in California. This office is in SSA Region 09 and currently has 5 administrative law judges who hear disability appeals.
The office's average approval rate is 66.3%, which is above the national average of 58.3%. This higher-than-average rate reflects the combined decision patterns of all judges at this office. Judge approval rates at this office range from 52.4% to 77.5%, 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 274 days. There are currently 1,176 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 235 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 58.1%. 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 Pasadena Hearing Office Data
Pasadena 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 274 days average processing time, claimants at Pasadena can expect a total timeline of roughly 16 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Pasadena have collectively issued 1,676 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 335 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 130 to 458 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Pasadena Hearing Office FAQ
What are my chances of approval at Pasadena?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 52.4% to 77.5%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 58.1%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Who are the Administrative Law Judges at Pasadena?
How long do disability cases take at Pasadena?
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.