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Philadelphia Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Pennsylvania · SSA Region 03

Approval Rate

56.6%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

9 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

268 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,606

awaiting hearing

ALJs

4

active judges

Philadelphia 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
Eric Borda 69.7% 30.3% 66.1% 254 304
Raina Goods 61.3% 38.7% 51.3% 431 536
Jessica Marie Johnson 49.8% 50.2% 38.8% 255 310
Robert J. Ryan 47.1% 52.9% 37.2% 454 584

Former Judges at Philadelphia

These judges have no recorded decisions at Philadelphia 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
Regina L Warren May 2025 65.7% 251
Christine McCafferty March 2025 53% 249

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 Philadelphia Social Security Hearing Office

The Philadelphia hearing office is part of the Social Security Administration's Office of Hearings Operations in Pennsylvania. This office is in SSA Region 03 and currently has 4 administrative law judges who hear disability appeals.

The office's average approval rate is 56.6%, which is near the national average of 57.6%. This rate represents the aggregate of all judge decisions at the office and includes both fully favorable and partially favorable outcomes. Judge approval rates at this office range from 47.1% to 69.7%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.

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 268 days. There are currently 1,606 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 402 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 48.3%. 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 Philadelphia Hearing Office Data

Philadelphia 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 9 months and 268 days average processing time, claimants at Philadelphia can expect a total timeline of roughly 18 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Philadelphia have collectively issued 1,394 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 349 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 254 to 454 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Philadelphia Hearing Office FAQ

What are my chances of approval at Philadelphia?
The average ALJ approval rate at Philadelphia is 56.6% for the 12 months ending July 2026. This rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions.

Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 47.1% to 69.7%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 48.3%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Who are the Administrative Law Judges at Philadelphia?
The Philadelphia office has 4 administrative law judges. Decision counts range from 254 to 454 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long do disability cases take at Philadelphia?
The current average wait time at Philadelphia is 9 months. This is longer than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 268 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 18 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?
Office statistics are calculated by aggregating individual judge decision data. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. Data originates from SSA public use files and is refreshed as new reports are published throughout the fiscal year.
What percentage of approvals at Philadelphia are fully favorable?
A fully favorable decision means the claimant is awarded benefits starting from the onset date they originally claimed. A partially favorable decision also awards benefits, but may set a later onset date than requested. Both types count toward the overall approval rate. The distinction is important because onset date determines how far back retroactive benefits extend. At Philadelphia, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 48.3%.
How does Philadelphia rank among other hearing offices in the state?
Of the 8 hearing offices in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia ranks 4 of 8 with an approval rate of 56.6%. In terms of wait time, Philadelphia ranks 5 of 8 (9 months). Visit the Pennsylvania overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

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