Official SSA Data

Philadelphia Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Pennsylvania · SSA Region 03

Approval Rate

55.5%

vs 58.3% national

Wait Time

8.5 months

vs 8 months national

Processing Time

306 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,669

awaiting hearing

ALJs

7

active judges

Philadelphia 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
Eric W Borda 69% 31% 65.4% 332 407
Regina L Warren 63.3% 36.7% 54.2% 166 207
Raina Goods 61.8% 38.2% 55% 131 155
Philip J Healy 60.1% 39.9% 54.6% 163 204
Christine McCafferty 54.9% 45.1% 48.8% 162 197
Robert J Ryan 46.8% 53.2% 36.7% 444 575
Jessica M Johnson 43.9% 56.1% 30.4% 303 384

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 7 administrative law judges who hear disability appeals.

The office's average approval rate is 55.5%, which is near the national average of 58.3%. 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 43.9% to 69%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 8.5 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 306 days. There are currently 1,669 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 238 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 49.3%. 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 8.5 months and 306 days average processing time, claimants at Philadelphia can expect a total timeline of roughly 19 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Philadelphia have collectively issued 1,701 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 243 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 131 to 444 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 55.5% for FY 2025. This rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions.

Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 43.9% to 69%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 49.3%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Who are the Administrative Law Judges at Philadelphia?
The Philadelphia office has 7 administrative law judges. Decision counts range from 131 to 444 in the current fiscal year. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long do disability cases take at Philadelphia?
The current average wait time at Philadelphia is 8.5 months. This is longer than the national average of 8 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 306 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 19 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 49.3%.
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 55.5%. In terms of wait time, Philadelphia ranks 6 of 8 (8.5 months). Visit the Pennsylvania overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.