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Phoenix North Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Arizona · SSA Region 09

Approval Rate

58.9%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

10 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

348 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

900

awaiting hearing

ALJs

6

active judges

Phoenix North 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
Timothy Suing 81.8% 18.2% 63.6% 11 13
Ted Armbruster 74% 26% 69% 319 357
Yasmin Elias 58.8% 41.2% 45.1% 51 60
Thomas Businger 52.9% 47.1% 42.9% 119 146
Kelly Walls 50.8% 49.2% 40.3% 315 390
Patricia A Bucci 39.5% 60.5% 27.2% 81 111

Former Judges at Phoenix North

These judges have no recorded decisions at Phoenix North 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
Randolph E Schum February 2025 27% 152
John Clady December 2023 71% 31

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 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 6 ALJs who preside over disability appeals.

The office's average approval rate is 58.9%, which is near the national average of 57.6%. 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 39.5% to 81.8%, a 42-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 10 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 348 days. There are currently 900 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 150 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 48.0%. 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 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 10 months and 348 days average processing time, claimants at Phoenix North can expect a total timeline of roughly 22 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Phoenix North have collectively issued 896 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 149 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 11 to 319 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Phoenix North Hearing Office FAQ

What is the approval rate at Phoenix North?
The average ALJ approval rate at Phoenix North is 58.9% 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 39.5% to 81.8%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 48.0%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at Phoenix North?
The Phoenix North office has 6 administrative law judges. Of these, 5 have issued 50 or more decisions in the 12 months ending July 2026. Decision counts range from 11 to 319 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long is the wait time at Phoenix North?
The current average wait time at Phoenix North is 10 months. This is longer than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 348 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 22 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?
Office statistics are calculated by aggregating individual judge decision data. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. All statistics are drawn from publicly available SSA disposition data, updated periodically as new fiscal year reports become available.
What is the fully favorable rate at Phoenix North?
When a judge issues a fully favorable ruling, benefits begin from the claimant's requested onset date. A partially favorable ruling still awards benefits but may adjust the onset to a later date, which affects retroactive payments. The approval rate combines both outcome types. At Phoenix North, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 48.0%.
How does Phoenix North compare to other offices in the state?
Of the 3 hearing offices in Arizona, Phoenix North ranks 2 of 3 with an approval rate of 58.9%. In terms of wait time, Phoenix North ranks 2 of 3 (10 months). Visit the Arizona overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

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