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Washington ALJ Statistics

Social Security Disability hearing statistics for 3 hearing offices and 18 administrative law judges in Washington.

State Approval Rate

63.2%

vs 58.3% national

Hearing Offices

3

in Washington

ALJs

18

active judges

Avg Wait Time

10.1 months

vs 8 months national

Hearing Offices in Washington

Office ALJs Approval Rate Wait Time Processing Pending
Seattle 9 56.5% 9 months 362 days 2,128
Spokane 6 72% 10 months 325 days 1,569
Tacoma 3 67.1% 9 months 331 days 1,489

About Washington Disability Hearings

Social Security disability hearings in Washington are conducted across 3 hearing offices in SSA Region 10. A total of 18 Administrative Law Judges are currently assigned to hear cases in the state.

The average approval rate across Washington hearing offices is 63.2%, which is close to the national average of 58.3%. This rate aggregates decisions from all judges across the state's hearing offices. Within the state, office-level approval rates range from 56.5% at the Seattle hearing office to 72% at the Spokane hearing office, a 16-point difference.

Wait times across Washington offices range from 9 months at the Tacoma hearing office to 10 months at the Spokane hearing office.

Across all offices, there are 5,186 cases currently pending in Washington, averaging approximately 288 pending cases per judge. Click on any hearing office below to see detailed judge-level statistics and individual approval rates.

Washington Hearing Landscape

Washington's 3 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 3 hearing offices, Washington provides multiple venues for disability hearings. Office sizes vary from 3 judges at the Tacoma hearing office to 9 judges at the Seattle 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 Washington, 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.

Washington Disability Hearing FAQ

What is the disability approval rate in Washington?
The average ALJ approval rate in Washington is 63.2% for FY 2025. This includes both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions. The national average is 58.3%, putting Washington above the national benchmark. Office-level rates within the state range from 56.5% to 72%.
How many Social Security hearing offices are in Washington?
Washington has 3 SSA hearing offices with a total of 18 administrative law judges. The largest office is the Seattle hearing office with 9 judges, while the Tacoma hearing office has 3. Hearing location is determined by the claimant's home address. Within each office, judges are assigned cases through a rotational scheduling system.
Which hearing office in Washington has the shortest wait time?
The Tacoma hearing office currently has the shortest wait time at 9 months. The longest wait is at the Spokane hearing office at 10 months, a gap of 1.0 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?
Washington's 3 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 does Washington compare to other states?
Washington is in SSA Region 10. Its average approval rate of 63.2% is above the national average of 58.3%. For a full comparison of approval rates and wait times across all states, visit the states overview page.
What factors influence hearing outcomes in Washington?
Hearing outcomes in Washington 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.

While all ALJs apply the same federal disability standards, these case-level factors can lead to variation in outcomes across offices and judges.
Can I transfer my hearing to a different office in Washington?
Hearing location is determined by the claimant's home address. Within each office, judges are assigned cases through a rotational scheduling system. 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. Washington has 3 hearing offices, each serving a defined geographic area within the state.

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