Seattle Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Washington · SSA Region 10
Approval Rate
56.5%
vs 58.3% national
Wait Time
9 months
vs 8 months national
Processing Time
362 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
2,128
awaiting hearing
ALJs
10
active judges
Seattle 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy Mangrum | 78.6% | 21.4% | 73.5% | 332 | 387 |
| Sue Leise | 74.7% | 25.3% | 69% | 87 | 105 |
| Evange Mariano Jackson | 72% | 28% | 64.5% | 375 | 462 |
| David Johnson | 66.7% | 33.3% | 33.3% | 3 | 5 |
| C. H Prinsloo | 62.7% | 37.3% | 54.1% | 268 | 344 |
| Joyce Frost Wolf | 56.8% | 43.2% | 38.9% | 95 | 112 |
| Malcolm Ross | 53.4% | 46.6% | 45.5% | 382 | 456 |
| Laura Valente | 50.9% | 49.1% | 44.7% | 161 | 191 |
| Allen G Erickson | 35.7% | 64.3% | 21.4% | 126 | 180 |
| Cecilia Lacara | 28% | 72% | 17.6% | 289 | 380 |
About the Seattle Social Security Hearing Office
Seattle is a Social Security disability hearing office serving claimants in Washington. Operating within SSA Region 10, 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 56.5%, which is near the national average of 58.3%. 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 28% to 78.6%, a 51-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 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 362 days. There are currently 2,128 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 213 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 46.3%. 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 Seattle Hearing Office Data
Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Seattle, 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 362 days average processing time, claimants at Seattle can expect a total timeline of roughly 21 months from hearing request to decision.
Judges at Seattle have collectively issued 2,118 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 212 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 3 to 382 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Seattle Hearing Office FAQ
What is the approval rate at Seattle?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 28% to 78.6%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 46.3%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Which judges hear cases at Seattle?
How long is the wait time at Seattle?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 21 months. These wait time figures represent the latest available snapshot and may fluctuate as hearing volumes and judge availability change over time.