Rochester Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
New York · SSA Region 02
Approval Rate
70.2%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
8 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
292 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
1,061
awaiting hearing
ALJs
3
active judges
Rochester 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Devlin | 77.7% | 22.3% | 68.7% | 422 | 474 |
| Brian Kane | 61.1% | 38.9% | 56% | 352 | 416 |
| Mary Jane Pelton | 41.1% | 58.9% | 38.9% | 90 | 100 |
Former Judges at Rochester
These judges have no recorded decisions at Rochester in the 12 months ending July 2026. Figures below cover each judge's own last twelve reported months, ending in the month shown.
| Judge | Last Decisions Reported | Approval Rate | Total Decisions |
|---|---|---|---|
| John P Costello | January 2025 | 73.9% | 153 |
| Connor O'brien | January 2024 | 78.9% | 109 |
Approval rates here cover each judge's own trailing window ending in the month shown, so they are not directly comparable with the current roster above or with national figures.
About the Rochester Social Security Hearing Office
The Social Security Administration operates the Rochester hearing office in New York as part of its Office of Hearings Operations. Located in SSA Region 02, 3 Administrative Law Judges conduct disability hearings at this location. 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 70.2%, which is above the national average of 57.6%. While above the national benchmark, this figure aggregates decisions across all judges and encompasses both fully and partially favorable outcomes. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 41.1% to 77.7%, a 37-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.
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 292 days. There are currently 1,061 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 354 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 54.5%. 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 Rochester Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Rochester, 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 months and 292 days average processing time, claimants at Rochester can expect a total timeline of roughly 18 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Rochester have collectively issued 864 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 288 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 90 to 422 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Rochester Hearing Office FAQ
What are my chances of approval at Rochester?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 41.1% to 77.7%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 54.5%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Who are the Administrative Law Judges at Rochester?
How long do disability cases take at Rochester?
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?
What percentage of approvals at Rochester are fully favorable?
How does Rochester rank among other hearing offices in the state?
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