With over 650,000 decisions made in Social Security disability cases each year, the SSA has two main offices, the Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) and the Office of Analytics, Review, and Oversight (OARO), that oversee the hearing, decision, and appeal processes in more than 160 local offices.* There are over 1,500 administrative law judges (ALJs) who preside over the hearings and give either a denial, a fully favorable or partially favorable decision.
The approval ratings vary significantly by hearing office, with the highest at 77.10% favorable and the lowest at 22.98%. The national average is 52.60%. Therefore, the hearing office where a claim is heard can affect the outcome of the case and whether or not an award is granted.
However, the approval rates for each hearing office fluctuate over time and it can be difficult to keep track of these. Therefore, we have compiled a list of the percentage of claims receiving both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions by hearing office. This data is from September 29, 2018 through April 26, 2019.**
Of the 168 OHOs/NHCs that have heard cases in the last 7 months, 103 of these offices have approval ratings over 50%. Here is a list of the 10 offices with the highest award percentages:
- Greensboro, NC – 77.10%
- Madison, WI – 74.95%
- Long Island, NY – 74.87%
- Rochester, NY – 74.72%
- Honolulu, HI – 69.62%
- Baltimore, MD – 69.56%
- Kingsport, TN – 68.26%
- Tucson, AZ – 67.87%
- New York, NY – 66.78%
- San Rafael, CA – 66.57%
eGenerationMarketing offers geographic targeting by zip code prefix, allowing you to receive leads that report to a specific hearing office. To learn more about our Social Security disability leads, give us a call today at 617.800.0089.
| State | Hearing Office | % Fully Favorably | % Partially Favorable | % Favorable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AK | ANCHORAGE | 15.32% | 7.66% | 22.98% |
| AL | BIRMINGHAM | 40.55% | 6.32% | 46.87% |
| AL | FLORENCE | 40.95% | 7.32% | 48.27% |
| AL | MOBILE | 59.59% | 4.34% | 63.93% |
| AL | MONTGOMERY | 56.15% | 6.42% | 62.57% |
| AR | FORT SMITH | 46.00% | 7.06% | 53.06% |
| AR | LITTLE ROCK | 36.38% | 7.49% | 43.87% |
| AZ | PHOENIX | 29.90% | 11.93% | 41.84% |
| AZ | PHOENIX NORTH | 45.44% | 8.83% | 54.27% |
| AZ | TUCSON | 58.36% | 9.51% | 67.87% |
| CA | FRESNO | 35.65% | 19.31% | 54.96% |
| CA | LONG BEACH | 44.41% | 8.64% | 53.05% |
| CA | LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN | 48.04% | 6.46% | 54.50% |
| CA | LOS ANGELES WEST | 40.14% | 9.62% | 49.77% |
| CA | MORENO VALLEY | 41.81% | 11.17% | 52.98% |
| CA | NORWALK | 49.48% | 6.29% | 55.77% |
| CA | OAKLAND | 50.12% | 10.47% | 60.59% |
| CA | ORANGE | 38.86% | 12.56% | 51.42% |
| CA | PASADENA | 52.64% | 7.80% | 60.44% |
| CA | SACRAMENTO | 57.12% | 8.25% | 65.37% |
| CA | SAN BERNARDINO | 47.86% | 9.69% | 57.55% |
| CA | SAN DIEGO | 41.30% | 9.91% | 51.21% |
| CA | SAN FRANCISCO | 52.25% | 8.82% | 61.06% |
| CA | SAN JOSE | 48.51% | 11.93% | 60.44% |
| CA | SAN RAFAEL | 52.61% | 13.96% | 66.57% |
| CA | SANTA BARBARA | 43.28% | 5.28% | 48.56% |
| CA | STOCKTON | 39.36% | 8.37% | 47.73% |
| CO | COLORADO SPRINGS | 27.97% | 9.69% | 37.65% |
| CO | DENVER | 42.75% | 7.28% | 50.03% |
| CT | HARTFORD | 34.78% | 7.89% | 42.67% |
| CT | NEW HAVEN | 37.07% | 12.21% | 49.28% |
| DC | WASHINGTON | 35.82% | 9.17% | 44.99% |
| DE | DOVER | 48.40% | 7.07% | 55.48% |
| FL | FORT MYERS FL | 52.94% | 7.25% | 60.18% |
| FL | FT LAUDERDALE | 51.78% | 5.96% | 57.74% |
| FL | JACKSONVILLE | 44.02% | 7.33% | 51.35% |
| FL | MIAMI | 41.96% | 6.57% | 48.53% |
| FL | ORLANDO | 49.11% | 8.60% | 57.71% |
| FL | ST PETERSBURG | 50.20% | 4.91% | 55.11% |
| FL | TALLAHASSEE | 43.96% | 10.87% | 54.83% |
| FL | TAMPA | 50.69% | 6.78% | 57.48% |
| GA | ATLANTA DOWNTOWN | 55.97% | 6.95% | 62.92% |
| GA | ATLANTA NORTH | 52.03% | 5.59% | 57.62% |
| GA | COVINGTON | 39.90% | 9.76% | 49.66% |
| GA | MACON | 36.94% | 6.36% | 43.30% |
| GA | SAVANNAH | 45.13% | 8.69% | 53.82% |
| HI | HONOLULU | 56.24% | 13.38% | 69.62% |
| IA | WEST DES MOINES | 45.96% | 12.75% | 58.71% |
| IL | CHICAGO | 40.12% | 11.54% | 51.66% |
| IL | EVANSTON | 49.01% | 8.52% | 57.53% |
| IL | NHC CHICAGO | 35.98% | 9.94% | 45.92% |
| IL | OAK BROOK | 47.39% | 8.43% | 55.82% |
| IL | ORLAND PARK | 40.54% | 9.67% | 50.22% |
| IL | PEORIA | 26.73% | 10.65% | 37.38% |
| IN | EVANSVILLE | 38.81% | 7.35% | 46.15% |
| IN | FORT WAYNE | 38.41% | 8.10% | 46.52% |
| IN | INDIANAPOLIS | 53.51% | 5.10% | 58.61% |
| IN | VALPARAISO IN | 37.97% | 10.60% | 48.56% |
| KS | TOPEKA | 27.01% | 8.04% | 35.05% |
| KS | WICHITA | 43.18% | 3.79% | 46.96% |
| KY | LEXINGTON | 43.25% | 6.95% | 50.20% |
| KY | LOUISVILLE | 45.72% | 9.75% | 55.48% |
| KY | MIDDLESBORO | 35.36% | 2.40% | 37.77% |
| KY | PADUCAH | 42.55% | 10.30% | 52.86% |
| LA | ALEXANDRIA | 35.90% | 8.82% | 44.72% |
| LA | METAIRIE | 38.21% | 8.93% | 47.14% |
| LA | NEW ORLEANS | 48.87% | 6.55% | 55.42% |
| LA | SHREVEPORT | 35.75% | 8.54% | 44.29% |
| MA | BOSTON | 47.26% | 7.94% | 55.21% |
| MA | LAWRENCE | 45.58% | 15.29% | 60.87% |
| MA | SPRINGFIELD | 37.52% | 10.18% | 47.70% |
| MD | BALTIMORE | 60.79% | 8.78% | 69.56% |
| MD | NHC BALTIMORE | 47.60% | 7.13% | 54.73% |
| ME | PORTLAND | 50.60% | 5.11% | 55.71% |
| MI | DETROIT | 43.31% | 8.54% | 51.85% |
| MI | FLINT | 34.53% | 15.80% | 50.33% |
| MI | GRAND RAPIDS | 41.19% | 9.47% | 50.66% |
| MI | LANSING | 44.06% | 7.06% | 51.13% |
| MI | LIVONIA | 56.10% | 7.20% | 63.30% |
| MI | MT PLEASANT | 39.50% | 10.60% | 50.10% |
| MI | OAK PARK | 53.95% | 9.11% | 63.06% |
| MN | MINNEAPOLIS | 43.67% | 9.73% | 53.40% |
| MO | COLUMBIA MO | 35.65% | 9.98% | 45.63% |
| MO | CREVE COEUR | 39.60% | 7.13% | 46.73% |
| MO | KANSAS CITY | 42.45% | 6.92% | 49.37% |
| MO | NHC ST LOUIS | 38.02% | 8.66% | 46.68% |
| MO | SPRINGFIELD | 32.92% | 4.97% | 37.89% |
| MO | ST LOUIS | 39.04% | 11.11% | 50.15% |
| MS | HATTIESBURG | 38.17% | 5.54% | 43.71% |
| MS | JACKSON | 38.88% | 4.77% | 43.64% |
| MS | TUPELO | 55.00% | 10.00% | 65.01% |
| MT | BILLINGS | 36.02% | 8.71% | 44.73% |
| NC | CHARLOTTE | 52.82% | 8.06% | 60.88% |
| NC | FAYETTEVILLE | 52.27% | 6.61% | 58.88% |
| NC | GREENSBORO | 68.93% | 8.18% | 77.10% |
| NC | RALEIGH | 47.33% | 7.38% | 54.70% |
| ND | FARGO | 48.39% | 9.98% | 58.37% |
| NE | OMAHA | 40.56% | 8.35% | 48.91% |
| NH | MANCHESTER | 50.86% | 5.52% | 56.38% |
| NJ | JERSEY CITY | 51.31% | 11.45% | 62.76% |
| NJ | NEWARK | 46.43% | 11.27% | 57.69% |
| NJ | SOUTH JERSEY | 40.23% | 13.90% | 54.12% |
| NM | ALBUQUERQUE | 41.76% | 8.46% | 50.22% |
| NM | NHC ALBUQUERQUE | 30.76% | 6.70% | 37.47% |
| NV | LAS VEGAS | 34.57% | 9.22% | 43.79% |
| NV | RENO NV | 27.93% | 10.45% | 38.38% |
| NY | ALBANY | 49.27% | 7.92% | 57.19% |
| NY | BRONX | 51.43% | 8.20% | 59.63% |
| NY | BUFFALO | 39.80% | 10.77% | 50.57% |
| NY | LONG ISLAND | 66.44% | 8.43% | 74.87% |
| NY | NEW YORK | 58.25% | 8.53% | 66.78% |
| NY | NEW YORK VARICK | 55.08% | 10.60% | 65.68% |
| NY | QUEENS | 52.84% | 9.58% | 62.42% |
| NY | ROCHESTER | 66.40% | 8.32% | 74.72% |
| NY | SYRACUSE | 42.31% | 9.26% | 51.57% |
| NY | WHITE PLAINS | 50.28% | 9.23% | 59.51% |
| OH | AKRON OH | 47.58% | 9.67% | 57.25% |
| OH | CINCINNATI | 46.04% | 6.31% | 52.35% |
| OH | CLEVELAND | 32.47% | 7.21% | 39.68% |
| OH | COLUMBUS | 38.50% | 5.70% | 44.20% |
| OH | DAYTON | 33.99% | 15.16% | 49.15% |
| OH | TOLEDO OH | 33.20% | 10.84% | 44.05% |
| OK | MCALESTER | 31.19% | 7.58% | 38.77% |
| OK | OKLAHOMA CITY | 53.45% | 4.72% | 58.17% |
| OK | TULSA | 55.00% | 10.00% | 65.01% |
| OR | EUGENE | 40.84% | 8.37% | 49.22% |
| OR | PORTLAND OR | 40.68% | 8.84% | 49.52% |
| PA | ELKINS PARK | 52.94% | 6.49% | 59.42% |
| PA | HARRISBURG | 42.52% | 5.00% | 47.52% |
| PA | JOHNSTOWN | 39.26% | 5.19% | 44.44% |
| PA | PHILADELPHIA | 41.43% | 8.71% | 50.14% |
| PA | PHILADELPHIA EAST | 41.09% | 9.32% | 50.41% |
| PA | PITTSBURGH | 38.79% | 8.44% | 47.23% |
| PA | SEVEN FIELDS | 39.44% | 12.01% | 51.45% |
| PA | WILKES BARRE | 35.18% | 10.25% | 45.43% |
| PR | PONCE | 38.79% | 8.44% | 47.23% |
| PR | SAN JUAN | 54.87% | 6.22% | 61.10% |
| RI | PROVIDENCE | 45.41% | 4.96% | 50.37% |
| SC | CHARLESTON | 36.78% | 7.60% | 44.38% |
| SC | COLUMBIA | 53.23% | 6.11% | 59.34% |
| SC | GREENVILLE | 51.41% | 4.82% | 56.23% |
| TN | CHATTANOOGA | 48.83% | 5.11% | 53.94% |
| TN | FRANKLIN | 46.13% | 5.96% | 52.09% |
| TN | KINGSPORT | 64.32% | 3.95% | 68.26% |
| TN | KNOXVILLE | 46.17% | 4.80% | 50.97% |
| TN | MEMPHIS | 47.83% | 9.19% | 57.02% |
| TN | NASHVILLE | 46.55% | 8.78% | 55.33% |
| TX | DALLAS DOWNTOWN | 50.39% | 6.97% | 57.36% |
| TX | DALLAS NORTH | 54.43% | 8.02% | 62.45% |
| TX | FORT WORTH | 40.67% | 7.92% | 48.60% |
| TX | HOUSTON NORTH | 37.47% | 6.28% | 43.75% |
| TX | HOUSTON-BISSONNET | 41.74% | 7.92% | 49.67% |
| TX | RIO GRANDE VALLEY | 34.10% | 7.97% | 42.07% |
| TX | SAN ANTONIO | 28.49% | 6.85% | 35.34% |
| UT | SALT LAKE CITY | 43.52% | 9.45% | 52.97% |
| VA | CHARLOTTESVILLE | 24.07% | 10.98% | 35.05% |
| VA | NHC FALLS CHURCH | 40.14% | 9.67% | 49.81% |
| VA | NORFOLK | 42.64% | 8.46% | 51.09% |
| VA | RICHMOND | 33.33% | 9.46% | 42.80% |
| VA | ROANOKE | 45.79% | 9.62% | 55.41% |
| WA | SEATTLE | 37.11% | 9.47% | 46.58% |
| WA | SPOKANE | 58.09% | 6.33% | 64.43% |
| WA | TACOMA | 33.08% | 9.34% | 42.42% |
| WI | MADISON | 66.15% | 8.80% | 74.95% |
| WI | MILWAUKEE | 32.42% | 10.97% | 43.38% |
| WV | CHARLESTON | 54.25% | 7.05% | 61.31% |
| WV | HUNTINGTON | 36.69% | 5.19% | 41.88% |
| WV | MORGANTOWN | 36.07% | 7.83% | 43.91% |
*https://www.ssa.gov/appeals/about_us.html
**https://www.ssa.gov/appeals/DataSets/03_ALJ_Disposition_Data.html