Official SSA Data

Wichita Hearing Office - ALJ Approval Rates & Wait Times

Kansas · SSA Region 07

Approval Rate

52.5%

vs 58.3% national

Wait Time

6 months

vs 8 months national

Processing Time

304 days

avg days to decision

Cases Pending

862

awaiting hearing

ALJs

6

active judges

Wichita 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
David Page 78.8% 21.2% 65.4% 358 403
Alison K Brookins 50% 50% 41.7% 24 29
Edward E Evans 39.3% 60.7% 34.3% 300 361
Susan Toth 38.4% 61.6% 21.4% 378 444
Mary J Leary 37.7% 62.3% 24.6% 61 69
Toni Neal 25% 75% N/A 4 4

About the Wichita Social Security Hearing Office

The Wichita hearing office is part of the Social Security Administration's Office of Hearings Operations in Kansas. This office is in SSA Region 07 and currently has 6 administrative law judges who hear disability appeals.

The office's average approval rate is 52.5%, which is below the national average of 58.3%. Approval rates are influenced by many factors including case mix, quality of representation, and individual judge decision-making patterns. Individual judge approval rates at this office range from 25% to 78.8%, a 54-point spread that reflects significant variation in decision patterns among judges.

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 304 days. There are currently 862 cases pending at this office. That works out to approximately 144 pending cases per judge.

Across the judges at this office, the average fully favorable rate is 31.2%. 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 Wichita Hearing Office Data

Given the significant variation in decision patterns among judges at Wichita, 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 6 months and 304 days average processing time, claimants at Wichita can expect a total timeline of roughly 16 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 Wichita have collectively issued 1,125 decisions in the current fiscal year, averaging 188 decisions per judge. Individual caseloads range from 4 to 378 decisions, reflecting differences in hearing schedules and case complexity.

Wichita Hearing Office FAQ

What is the approval rate at Wichita?
The average ALJ approval rate at Wichita is 52.5% for FY 2025. This rate combines both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions.

Individual judges at this office have rates ranging from 25% to 78.8%. Of approved cases, the average fully favorable rate across judges at this office is 31.2%. The national average approval rate is 58.3%.
Which judges hear cases at Wichita?
The Wichita office has 6 administrative law judges. Of these, 4 have issued 50 or more decisions in FY 2025. Decision counts range from 4 to 378 in the current fiscal year. See the judges table above for individual statistics.
How long is the wait time at Wichita?
The current average wait time at Wichita is 6 months. This is shorter than the national average of 8 months. After the hearing, decisions are issued in an average of 304 days.

From hearing request to decision, the total timeline at this office averages approximately 16 months. Wait times are snapshots from the most recent SSA data release and can shift as caseloads, staffing, and scheduling capacity change.
How is office data calculated?
This office has faster-than-average wait times at 6 months. Office statistics are calculated by aggregating individual judge decision data. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. Data originates from SSA public use files and is refreshed as new reports are published throughout the fiscal year.
What is the fully favorable rate at Wichita?
A fully favorable decision means the claimant is awarded benefits starting from the onset date they originally claimed. A partially favorable decision also awards benefits, but may set a later onset date than requested. Both types count toward the overall approval rate. The distinction is important because onset date determines how far back retroactive benefits extend. At Wichita, the average fully favorable rate across judges is 31.2%.
How does Wichita compare to other offices in the state?
Of the 2 hearing offices in Kansas, Wichita has the highest approval rate at 52.5%. In terms of wait time, Wichita ranks 1 of 2 (6 months). Visit the Kansas overview page for a full comparison of all offices in the state.