Topeka KS Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times
Kansas · SSA Region 07
Approval Rate
42.7%
vs 58.3% national
Wait Time
6 months
vs 8 months national
Processing Time
230 days
avg days to decision
Cases Pending
441
awaiting hearing
ALJs
4
active judges
Topeka KS 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearline Hardy | 55.8% | 44.2% | 38.5% | 156 | 174 |
| Lauren K. Tran | 43.3% | 56.7% | 26.4% | 261 | 293 |
| Scott Johnson | 40.6% | 59.4% | 36.3% | 320 | 388 |
| Michael D Burrichter | 37.8% | 62.2% | 33.7% | 288 | 351 |
About the Topeka KS Social Security Hearing Office
Claimants in the Topeka KS service area have their Social Security disability appeals heard at this office, one of the hearing locations in Kansas. The office is assigned to SSA Region 07 and has 4 active ALJs.
The office's average approval rate is 42.7%, which is below the national average of 58.3%. This rate is shaped by the interplay of case characteristics, local representation patterns, and individual judge decision tendencies. Judge approval rates at this office range from 37.8% to 55.8%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.
The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 6 months, which is notably shorter than the national average of 8 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 230 days. There are currently 441 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 110 pending cases per judge.
Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 33.7%. A fully favorable decision awards benefits from the claimant's requested onset date, while a partially favorable decision may set a later onset date. Both count toward the overall approval rate.
How to Interpret Topeka KS Hearing Office Data
Topeka KS 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 6 months and 230 days average processing time, claimants at Topeka KS can expect a total timeline of roughly 14 months from hearing request to decision. The faster-than-average processing at this office means cases may move through the system more quickly.
Judges at Topeka KS have collectively issued 1,025 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 256 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 156 to 320 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.
Topeka KS Hearing Office FAQ
What are my chances of approval at Topeka KS?
Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 37.8% to 55.8%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 33.7%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Who are the Administrative Law Judges at Topeka KS?
How long do disability cases take at Topeka KS?
From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 14 months. Note that wait times are point-in-time estimates from SSA reporting and may vary from month to month based on case volume and staffing changes.