Pittsburgh Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Pennsylvania · SSA Region 03
Approval Rate
47.5%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
9 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
286 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
2,828
awaiting hearing
ALJs
7
active judges
Pittsburgh 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julianne Hostovich | 62.9% | 37.1% | 54.8% | 221 | 270 |
| Joanna Papazekos | 62% | 38% | 55.2% | 297 | 374 |
| Sarah Ehasz | 56.7% | 43.3% | 44% | 386 | 471 |
| Michael Kaczmarek | 50.6% | 49.4% | 44.9% | 316 | 393 |
| Paul Kovac | 44.5% | 55.5% | 39.5% | 382 | 473 |
| Christian Bareford | 39.1% | 60.9% | 33.1% | 384 | 471 |
| Leslie Perry Dowdell | 28.1% | 71.9% | 19.7% | 228 | 284 |
Former Judges at Pittsburgh
This judge has no recorded decisions at Pittsburgh 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| John J Porter | December 2023 | 63.4% | 41 |
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 Pittsburgh Social Security Hearing Office
Pittsburgh is a Social Security disability hearing office serving claimants in Pennsylvania. Operating within SSA Region 03, the office has 7 ALJs who preside over disability appeals.
The office's average approval rate is 47.5%, which is below the national average of 57.6%. A lower aggregate rate does not necessarily indicate stricter standards — it may reflect differences in case demographics, representation quality, or the types of conditions presented at hearings. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 28.1% to 62.9%, a 35-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 8.4 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 286 days. There are currently 2,828 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 404 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 41.6%. 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 Pittsburgh Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Pittsburgh, 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 286 days average processing time, claimants at Pittsburgh can expect a total timeline of roughly 19 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Pittsburgh have collectively issued 2,214 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 316 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 221 to 386 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Pittsburgh Hearing Office FAQ
What is the approval rate at Pittsburgh?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 28.1% to 62.9%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 41.6%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at Pittsburgh?
How long is the wait time at Pittsburgh?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 19 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?
What is the fully favorable rate at Pittsburgh?
How does Pittsburgh compare to other offices in the state?
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