Official SSA Data

Valparaiso IN Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Indiana · SSA Region 05

Approval Rate

59.4%

vs 58.3% national

Wait Time

7 months

vs 8 months national

Processing Time

260 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

1,180

awaiting hearing

ALJs

7

active judges

Valparaiso IN 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
Mary P Hubert 68.2% 31.8% 60.4% 154 185
Tiffani T Jake 63.3% 36.7% 47.8% 360 415
Leeanne Foster 59.4% 40.6% 48.3% 431 476
Dina Lamarche 56.5% 43.5% 41.9% 434 490
Romona Scales 53% 47% 37.3% 134 160
Alison Crisman 50.1% 49.9% 37.9% 343 403
Livia Morales 44.6% 55.4% 25% 56 66

About the Valparaiso IN Social Security Hearing Office

The Social Security Administration operates the Valparaiso IN hearing office in Indiana as part of its Office of Hearings Operations. Located in SSA Region 05, 7 Administrative Law Judges conduct disability hearings at this location.

The office's average approval rate is 59.4%, which is near the national average of 58.3%. This figure combines both fully favorable and partially favorable outcomes from all judges at the office. Judge approval rates at this office range from 44.6% to 68.2%, showing a moderate degree of variation across the bench.

The current average wait time for a hearing at this office is 7 months, which is comparable to the national average of 8 months. Once a hearing takes place, this office issues decisions in an average of 260 days. There are currently 1,180 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 169 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 42.7%. 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 Valparaiso IN Hearing Office Data

Valparaiso IN 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 7 months and 260 days average processing time, claimants at Valparaiso IN can expect a total timeline of roughly 16 months from hearing request to decision.

Judges at Valparaiso IN have collectively issued 1,912 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 273 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 56 to 434 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Valparaiso IN Hearing Office FAQ

What is the approval rate at Valparaiso IN?
The average ALJ approval rate at Valparaiso IN is 59.4% for FY 2025. This rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions.

Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 44.6% to 68.2%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 42.7%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Which judges hear cases at Valparaiso IN?
The Valparaiso IN office has 7 administrative law judges. Decision counts range from 56 to 434 in the current fiscal year. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long is the wait time at Valparaiso IN?
The current average wait time at Valparaiso IN is 7 months. This is shorter than the national average of 8 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 260 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 16 months. Wait time averages reflect the most recently reported SSA data and will evolve as new disposition reports are released.
How is office data calculated?
This office has faster-than-average wait times at 7 months. Office statistics are calculated by aggregating individual judge decision data. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. Source data comes from the Social Security Administration's public reporting on ALJ decisions, which we incorporate as updates are released.
What is the fully favorable rate at Valparaiso IN?
"Fully favorable" means the claimant receives benefits effective from their originally claimed onset date. "Partially favorable" also grants benefits but may start them from a later date. Both decisions are counted as approvals in the statistics. The onset date difference can significantly affect the total retroactive benefit amount. At Valparaiso IN, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 42.7%.
How does Valparaiso IN compare to other offices in the state?
Of the 4 hearing offices in Indiana, Valparaiso IN ranks 2 of 4 with an approval rate of 59.4%. In terms of wait time, Valparaiso IN ranks 3 of 4 (7 months). Visit the Indiana overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.