Roanoke Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Virginia · SSA Region 03
Approval Rate
54.4%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
8.5 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
252 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
1,097
awaiting hearing
ALJs
4
active judges
Roanoke 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph T Scruton | 69.4% | 30.6% | 57.4% | 399 | 463 |
| Thomas W Erwin | 59.5% | 40.5% | 55.9% | 383 | 441 |
| Jeffrey J Schueler | 59.2% | 40.8% | 38.8% | 49 | 58 |
| James Gabello | 34.2% | 65.8% | 26.6% | 406 | 475 |
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 54.4%, which is near the national average of 57.6%. This figure combines both fully favorable and partially favorable outcomes from all judges at the office. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 34.2% to 69.4%, 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 8.5 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 252 days. There are currently 1,097 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 274 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 44.7%. 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
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Roanoke, 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 8.5 months and 252 days average processing time, claimants at Roanoke can expect a total timeline of roughly 17 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Roanoke have collectively issued 1,237 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 309 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 49 to 406 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Roanoke Hearing Office FAQ
What is the approval rate at Roanoke?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 34.2% to 69.4%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 44.7%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Which judges hear cases at Roanoke?
How long is the wait time at Roanoke?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 17 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?
What is the fully favorable rate at Roanoke?
How does Roanoke compare to other offices in the state?
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