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Topeka KS Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Kansas · SSA Region 07

Approval Rate

43.2%

vs 57.6% national

Wait Time

8 months

vs 8.4 months national

Processing Time

239 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,277

awaiting hearing

ALJs

4

active judges

Topeka KS 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
Pearline Hardy 65.6% 34.4% 47.2% 218 254
Michael Burrichter 41.8% 58.2% 36.9% 390 448
Lauren K Tran 39.1% 60.9% 20% 450 529
Scott Johnson 37.3% 62.7% 33.9% 413 490

Former Judges at Topeka KS

This judge has no recorded decisions at Topeka KS 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
Raymond L Souza May 2024 50% 2

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 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 43.2%, which is below the national average of 57.6%. 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 37.3% to 65.6%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.

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 239 days. There are currently 1,277 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 319 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 34.5%. 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 8 months and 239 days average processing time, claimants at Topeka KS can expect a total timeline of roughly 16 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Topeka KS have collectively issued 1,471 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 368 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 218 to 450 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Topeka KS Hearing Office FAQ

What are my chances of approval at Topeka KS?
The average ALJ approval rate at Topeka KS is 43.2% 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 37.3% to 65.6%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 34.5%. The national average approval rate is 57.6%.
Who are the Administrative Law Judges at Topeka KS?
The Topeka KS office has 4 administrative law judges. Decision counts range from 218 to 450 in the 12 months ending July 2026. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long do disability cases take at Topeka KS?
The current average wait time at Topeka KS is 8 months. This is shorter than the national average of 8.4 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 239 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 16 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.
How is office data calculated?
This office has faster-than-average wait times at 8 months. Office statistics are calculated by aggregating individual judge decision data. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. These figures rely on SSA's publicly released disposition records, which are processed and incorporated into our database as each reporting cycle concludes.
What percentage of approvals at Topeka KS are fully favorable?
A fully favorable outcome awards benefits from the date the claimant first alleged disability. A partially favorable outcome also results in an award but may recognize a later onset date, reducing retroactive benefits. In the approval rate shown here, both types of favorable decisions are included. At Topeka KS, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 34.5%.
How does Topeka KS rank among other hearing offices in the state?
Of the 2 hearing offices in Kansas, Topeka KS has the lowest approval rate at 43.2%. In terms of wait time, Topeka KS ranks 1 of 2 (8 months). Visit the Kansas overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.

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