Phoenix North Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Arizona · SSA Region 09
Approval Rate
58.9%
vs 58.3% national
Wait Time
9 months
vs 8 months national
Processing Time
339 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
1,421
awaiting hearing
ALJs
5
active judges
Phoenix North 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ted W Armbruster | 74.5% | 25.5% | 69.8% | 318 | 396 |
| Thomas D Businger | 51.5% | 48.5% | 43.8% | 272 | 348 |
| Kelly Walls | 44.2% | 55.8% | 29.8% | 292 | 367 |
| Patricia A Bucci | 35.2% | 64.8% | 29.6% | 71 | 86 |
| Randolph E Schum | 27.5% | 72.5% | 15% | 40 | 46 |
About the Phoenix North Social Security Hearing Office
Phoenix North is a Social Security disability hearing office serving claimants in Arizona. Operating within SSA Region 09, the office has 5 ALJs who preside over disability appeals.
The office's average approval rate is 58.9%, which is near the national average of 58.3%. Being close to the national average suggests this office's case mix and decision patterns are broadly representative of the system as a whole. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 27.5% to 74.5%, a 47-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 9 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 339 days. There are currently 1,421 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 284 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 37.6%. 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 Phoenix North Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Phoenix North, 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 9 months and 339 days average processing time, claimants at Phoenix North can expect a total timeline of roughly 20 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Phoenix North have collectively issued 993 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 199 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 40 to 318 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Phoenix North Hearing Office FAQ
What is the approval rate at Phoenix North?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 27.5% to 74.5%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 37.6%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Which judges hear cases at Phoenix North?
How long is the wait time at Phoenix North?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 20 months. These wait time figures represent the latest available snapshot and may fluctuate as hearing volumes and judge availability change over time.