San Diego Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
California · SSA Region 09
Approval Rate
57.2%
vs 57.6% national
Wait Time
9 months
vs 8.4 months national
Processing Time
300 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
2,558
awaiting hearing
ALJs
10
active judges
San Diego 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 | 75% | 25% | 75% | 4 | 4 |
| Michael B. Richardson | 69.1% | 30.9% | 65.6% | 314 | 437 |
| Timothy Suing | 64.3% | 35.7% | 42.9% | 14 | 14 |
| Howard K. Treblin | 64.3% | 35.7% | 64.3% | 14 | 15 |
| Robert Iafe | 63.3% | 36.7% | 51.4% | 327 | 392 |
| Josephine Arno | 62.5% | 37.5% | 51.9% | 104 | 129 |
| Joel Tracy | 56.4% | 43.6% | 39.6% | 101 | 119 |
| Kevin Messer | 55.8% | 44.2% | 44.2% | 265 | 308 |
| Yasmin Elias | 50% | 50% | 46.4% | 28 | 28 |
| Andrew Verne | 41.6% | 58.4% | 34.8% | 351 | 420 |
Former Judges at San Diego
These judges have no recorded decisions at San Diego 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Delphey | May 2025 | 60.2% | 269 |
| Eric V Benham | January 2025 | 68.9% | 270 |
| William K Mueller | December 2023 | 52.5% | 80 |
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 Diego Social Security Hearing Office
San Diego is a Social Security disability hearing office serving claimants in California. Operating within SSA Region 09, the office has 10 ALJs who preside over disability appeals. With 10 ALJs, this is one of the larger hearing offices in the system, handling a substantial volume of disability cases each fiscal year.
The office's average approval rate is 57.2%, 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. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 41.6% to 75%, a 33-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.
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 300 days. There are currently 2,558 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 256 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 51.6%. 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 Diego Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at San Diego, 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 9 months and 300 days average processing time, claimants at San Diego can expect a total timeline of roughly 19 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at San Diego have collectively issued 1,522 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 152 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 4 to 351 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
San Diego Hearing Office FAQ
How often are disability cases approved at San Diego?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 41.6% to 75%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 51.6%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
How many ALJs work at San Diego?
What is the average case processing time at San Diego?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 19 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?
How often do judges at San Diego issue fully favorable decisions?
Is San Diego's approval rate higher or lower than nearby offices?
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