Reno Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Nevada · SSA Region 09
Approval Rate
54.3%
vs 58.3% national
Wait Time
11 months
vs 8 months national
Processing Time
325 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
281
awaiting hearing
ALJs
2
active judges
Reno 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter J Baum | 80.8% | 19.2% | 75% | 52 | 85 |
| Wynne O'brien Persons | 54.3% | 45.7% | 37% | 184 | 268 |
About the Reno Social Security Hearing Office
Claimants in the Reno service area have their Social Security disability appeals heard at this office, one of the hearing locations in Nevada. The office is assigned to SSA Region 09 and has 2 active ALJs. As a smaller office, caseload is concentrated among fewer judges, which means individual judge statistics have a more pronounced effect on overall office outcomes.
The office's average approval rate is 54.3%, which is near the national average of 58.3%. The rate aligns with national patterns, though individual judges at this office may vary above or below this average. Judge approval rates at this office range from 54.3% to 80.8%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 11 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 325 days. There are currently 281 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 141 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 56.0%. 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 Reno Hearing Office Data
Reno 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 11 months and 325 days average processing time, claimants at Reno can expect a total timeline of roughly 22 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 Reno have collectively issued 236 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 118 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 52 to 184 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Reno Hearing Office FAQ
What are my chances of approval at Reno?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 54.3% to 80.8%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 56.0%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Who are the Administrative Law Judges at Reno?
How long do disability cases take at Reno?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 22 months. Note that wait times are point-in-time estimates from SSA reporting and may vary from month to month based on case volume and staffing changes.