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San Bernardino Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

California · SSA Region 09

Approval Rate

61.7%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

9 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

245 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,265

awaiting hearing

ALJs

6

active judges

San Bernardino 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
Daniel Benjamin 73% 27% 68.3% 63 71
Elizab Stevens Bentley 66.7% 33.3% 53.8% 78 84
Elizabeth Stevens Bentley 65.9% 34.1% 53.6% 308 356
Mark Yasutomi 65% 35% 41.5% 123 151
Troy Silva 59.5% 40.5% 54.6% 390 468
Joel Tracy 57.9% 42.1% 43.2% 375 435

Former Judges at San Bernardino

These judges have no recorded decisions at San Bernardino 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
Kathleen Fischer July 2024 77.6% 317
Harrell JR. January 2024 68.8% 77

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 San Bernardino Social Security Hearing Office

San Bernardino is a Social Security disability hearing office serving claimants in California. Operating within SSA Region 09, the office has 6 ALJs who preside over disability appeals.

The office's average approval rate is 61.7%, which is near the national average of 57.6%. Being close to the national average suggests this office's case mix and decision patterns are broadly representative of the system as a whole. Judge approval rates at this office range from 57.9% to 73%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 9 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 245 days. There are currently 1,265 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 211 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 52.5%. 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 San Bernardino Hearing Office Data

San Bernardino 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 9 months and 245 days average processing time, claimants at San Bernardino can expect a total timeline of roughly 17 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at San Bernardino have collectively issued 1,337 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 223 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 63 to 390 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

San Bernardino Hearing Office FAQ

How often are disability cases approved at San Bernardino?
The average ALJ approval rate at San Bernardino is 61.7% for the 12 months ending July 2026. This rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions.

Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 57.9% to 73%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 52.5%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
How many ALJs work at San Bernardino?
The San Bernardino office has 6 administrative law judges. Decision counts range from 63 to 390 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
What is the average case processing time at San Bernardino?
The current average wait time at San Bernardino is 9 months. This is longer than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 245 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 17 months. These wait time figures represent the latest available snapshot and may fluctuate as hearing volumes and judge availability change over time.
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. All statistics are drawn from publicly available SSA disposition data, updated periodically as new fiscal year reports become available.
How often do judges at San Bernardino issue fully favorable decisions?
When a judge issues a fully favorable ruling, benefits begin from the claimant's requested onset date. A partially favorable ruling still awards benefits but may adjust the onset to a later date, which affects retroactive payments. The approval rate combines both outcome types. At San Bernardino, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 52.5%.
Is San Bernardino's approval rate higher or lower than nearby offices?
Of the 17 hearing offices in California, San Bernardino ranks 8 of 17 with an approval rate of 61.7%. In terms of wait time, San Bernardino ranks 7 of 17 (9 months). Visit the California overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

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