Ponce Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Puerto Rico · SSA Region 02
Approval Rate
82.2%
vs 58.3% national
Wait Time
14 months
vs 8 months national
Processing Time
469 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
859
awaiting hearing
ALJs
4
active judges
Ponce 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerardo R Pico | 100% | N/A | N/A | 1 | 1 |
| Yeli Quinones Regalado | 90.4% | 9.6% | 82.7% | 156 | 181 |
| Angel X Viera Vargas | 84.4% | 15.6% | 84.4% | 45 | 49 |
| Judith Torres | 78% | 22% | 68.5% | 127 | 133 |
About the Ponce Social Security Hearing Office
The Social Security Administration operates the Ponce hearing office in Puerto Rico as part of its Office of Hearings Operations. Located in SSA Region 02, 4 Administrative Law Judges conduct disability hearings at this location.
The office's average approval rate is 82.2%, which is above the national average of 58.3%. While above the national benchmark, this figure aggregates decisions across all judges and encompasses both fully and partially favorable outcomes. Judge approval rates at this office range from 78% to 100%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 14 months, which is longer than the national average of 8 months. Longer wait times can reflect higher caseload volume relative to available judges. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 469 days. There are currently 859 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 215 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 58.9%. 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 Ponce Hearing Office Data
Ponce 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 14 months and 469 days average processing time, claimants at Ponce can expect a total timeline of roughly 30 months from hearing request to decision. This longer-than-average wait underscores the importance of having complete medical evidence ready well before the hearing date.
Judges at Ponce have collectively issued 329 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 82 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 1 to 156 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Ponce Hearing Office FAQ
What is the approval rate at Ponce?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 78% to 100%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 58.9%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Which judges hear cases at Ponce?
How long is the wait time at Ponce?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 30 months. Wait time averages reflect the most recently reported SSA data and will evolve as new disposition reports are released.