Rio Grande Valley TX Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Texas · SSA Region 06
Approval Rate
57.3%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
8 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
242 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
923
awaiting hearing
ALJs
3
active judges
Rio Grande Valley TX 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kimberly O. Wyatt | 59.1% | 40.9% | 54.4% | 193 | 228 |
| Hiral D. Patel | 55% | 45% | 51.6% | 547 | 614 |
| Jeanne Vanderheide | 33.3% | 66.7% | 33.3% | 3 | 5 |
About the Rio Grande Valley TX Social Security Hearing Office
Claimants in the Rio Grande Valley TX service area have their Social Security disability appeals heard at this office, one of the hearing locations in Texas. The office is assigned to SSA Region 06 and has 3 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 57.3%, which is near the national average of 57.6%. 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 33.3% to 59.1%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 8 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 242 days. There are currently 923 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 308 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 46.4%. 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 Rio Grande Valley TX Hearing Office Data
Rio Grande Valley TX 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 8 months and 242 days average processing time, claimants at Rio Grande Valley TX can expect a total timeline of roughly 16 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Rio Grande Valley TX have collectively issued 743 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 248 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 3 to 547 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Rio Grande Valley TX Hearing Office FAQ
How often are disability cases approved at Rio Grande Valley TX?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 33.3% to 59.1%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 46.4%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
How many ALJs work at Rio Grande Valley TX?
What is the average case processing time at Rio Grande Valley TX?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 16 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.
How is office data calculated?
How often do judges at Rio Grande Valley TX issue fully favorable decisions?
Is Rio Grande Valley TX's approval rate higher or lower than nearby offices?
ALJ Statistics: Powered by Chronicle
Chronicle monitors the ERE daily so disability attorneys never miss a document, questionnaire, or hearing notice. Trusted by 100+ law firms as their virtual SSA mailroom software.