Official SSA Data

Roanoke Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Virginia · SSA Region 03

Approval Rate

58.9%

vs 58.3% national

Wait Time

8.5 months

vs 8 months national

Processing Time

273 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,163

awaiting hearing

ALJs

4

active judges

Roanoke 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
Joseph T Scruton 68.9% 31.1% 56.5% 315 386
Thomas W Erwin 62.9% 37.1% 56.5% 340 397
Jeffrey J Schueler 59.6% 40.4% 44.9% 136 173
James Gabello 46.3% 53.7% 30.2% 361 454

About the Roanoke Social Security Hearing Office

The Social Security Administration operates the Roanoke hearing office in Virginia as part of its Office of Hearings Operations. Located in SSA Region 03, 4 Administrative Law Judges conduct disability hearings at this location.

The office's average approval rate is 58.9%, which is near the national average of 58.3%. This figure combines both fully favorable and partially favorable outcomes from all judges at the office. Judge approval rates at this office range from 46.3% to 68.9%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 8.5 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 273 days. There are currently 1,163 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 291 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 47.0%. 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 Roanoke Hearing Office Data

Roanoke 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 8.5 months and 273 days average processing time, claimants at Roanoke can expect a total timeline of roughly 18 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Roanoke have collectively issued 1,152 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 288 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 136 to 361 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Roanoke Hearing Office FAQ

What is the approval rate at Roanoke?
The average ALJ approval rate at Roanoke is 58.9% for FY 2025. This rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions.

Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 46.3% to 68.9%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 47.0%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Which judges hear cases at Roanoke?
The Roanoke office has 4 administrative law judges. Decision counts range from 136 to 361 in the current fiscal year. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long is the wait time at Roanoke?
The current average wait time at Roanoke is 8.5 months. This is longer than the national average of 8 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 273 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 18 months. Wait time averages reflect the most recently reported SSA data and will evolve as new disposition reports are released.
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. Source data comes from the Social Security Administration's public reporting on ALJ decisions, which we incorporate as updates are released.
What is the fully favorable rate at Roanoke?
"Fully favorable" means the claimant receives benefits effective from their originally claimed onset date. "Partially favorable" also grants benefits but may start them from a later date. Both decisions are counted as approvals in the statistics. The onset date difference can significantly affect the total retroactive benefit amount. At Roanoke, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 47.0%.
How does Roanoke compare to other offices in the state?
Of the 5 hearing offices in Virginia, Roanoke has the highest approval rate at 58.9%. In terms of wait time, Roanoke ranks 2 of 5 (8.5 months). Visit the Virginia overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.