ALJ Disability Decisions

 Posted on March 31, 2012 in Social Security Disability

Recently, the Social Security's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) completed an audit of Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) decision making. The results were quite alarming.

ALJ's with the highest allowance rates:

Kingsport, TN (99.73%)

Pittsburgh, PA (98.88%)

San Rafael, CA (98.08%)

Orlando, FL (97.83%)

Meanwhile, below are the ALJ's with the lowest allowance rates:

Dallas North, TX (8.55%)

San Antonio, TX (13.04%)

Dallas Downtown, TX (13.62%)

Milwaukee, WI (20.67%)

The numbers above should be quite alarming. If you are applying for Social Security disability benefits and live in Kingsport, TN you can basically expect your claim to be approved. Meanwhile, many claimants who live in Dallas will have their claims denied regardless of their condition, even with the same fact pattern as a claimant in Kingsport. There is really no explanation for this other then the judges themselves. The Administrative Law Judge determines whether you are entitled to disability benefits, whether SSDI or SSI benefits. Much of the outcome will depend on whose determining your case outcome. The OIG report confirms the importance of who is hearing your case at the hearing level.

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