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Arkansas ALJ Statistics

Social Security Disability hearing statistics for 2 hearing offices and 14 administrative law judges in Arkansas.

State Approval Rate

45.9%

vs 58.3% national

Hearing Offices

2

in Arkansas

ALJs

14

active judges

Avg Wait Time

7.4 months

vs 8 months national

Hearing Offices in Arkansas

Office ALJs Approval Rate Wait Time Processing Pending
Fort Smith 6 58% 8 months 288 days 1,332
Little Rock 8 40.4% 8 months 288 days 2,683

About Arkansas Disability Hearings

Social Security disability hearings in Arkansas are conducted across 2 hearing offices in SSA Region 06. A total of 14 Administrative Law Judges are currently assigned to hear cases in the state.

The average approval rate across Arkansas hearing offices is 45.9%, which is below the national average of 58.3%. State-level rates are influenced by case demographics, quality of representation, claimant populations, and individual judge decision patterns. Within the state, office-level approval rates range from 40.4% at the Little Rock hearing office to 58% at the Fort Smith hearing office, a 18-point difference.

Wait times across Arkansas offices range from 8 months at the Little Rock hearing office to 8 months at the Little Rock hearing office.

Across all offices, there are 4,015 cases currently pending in Arkansas, averaging approximately 287 pending cases per judge. Click on any hearing office below to see detailed judge-level statistics and individual approval rates.

Arkansas Hearing Landscape

Arkansas's 2 hearing offices each serve different geographic areas of the state. Case assignment is based on the claimant's residential address, so hearing location and judge assignment depend on where the claimant lives rather than personal preference. All statistics on this page are weighted by individual judge caseloads to accurately reflect the volume of cases processed.

With 2 hearing offices, Arkansas provides multiple venues for disability hearings. Office sizes vary from 6 judges at the Fort Smith hearing office to 8 judges at the Little Rock hearing office. Cases are assigned to offices based on the claimant's residential address, so hearing location is determined by geography rather than preference.

For attorneys practicing disability law in Arkansas, understanding the local hearing landscape is an important part of case preparation. The data on this page provides a starting point for evaluating office-level patterns, though individual judge statistics offer more granular insight into decision-making tendencies. Visit individual office pages for judge-level data.

Arkansas Disability Hearing FAQ

How often are cases approved in Arkansas?
The average ALJ approval rate in Arkansas is 45.9% for FY 2025. This includes both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions. The national average is 58.3%, putting Arkansas below the national benchmark. Office-level rates within the state range from 40.4% to 58%.
Where are the disability hearing offices in Arkansas?
Arkansas has 2 SSA hearing offices with a total of 14 administrative law judges. The largest office is the Little Rock hearing office with 8 judges, while the Fort Smith hearing office has 6. Hearing location is determined by the claimant's home address. Within each office, judges are assigned cases through a rotational scheduling system.
Where in Arkansas can I get a disability hearing fastest?
The Little Rock hearing office currently has the shortest wait time at 8 months. The longest wait is at the Little Rock hearing office at 8 months, a gap of 0.0 months. These wait time figures represent the latest available snapshot and may fluctuate as hearing volumes and judge availability change over time.
How is state data calculated?
Arkansas's 2 offices handle cases for the state. State averages are calculated by aggregating data from all hearing offices within the state. See our methodology page for details on data sources and calculations. All statistics are drawn from publicly available SSA disposition data, updated periodically as new fiscal year reports become available.
How do Arkansas's hearing statistics compare nationally?
Arkansas is in SSA Region 06. Its average approval rate of 45.9% is below the national average of 58.3%. For a full comparison of approval rates and wait times across all states, visit the states overview page.
Why do approval rates vary across offices in Arkansas?
Hearing outcomes in Arkansas are influenced by several factors including the strength and completeness of medical evidence, vocational factors such as the claimant's age, education, and work history, the quality of legal representation at the hearing, and individual judge decision-making patterns.

Arkansas's below-average approval rate of 45.9% may reflect regional factors including case demographics and the mix of conditions presented at hearings.

While all ALJs apply the same federal disability standards, these case-level factors can lead to variation in outcomes across offices and judges.
Is it possible to change hearing offices within Arkansas?
Cases are assigned to hearing offices based on the claimant's residential address, and judge assignments within an office are typically made on a rotational basis. While transfers between offices are generally not possible based on preference, a change of address that moves you into a different office's service area may result in case reassignment. Arkansas has 2 hearing offices, each serving a defined geographic area within the state.

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