Social Security Administration (SSA) Annual Data for
Average Processing Time Until Hearing Held

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(Updated )
This dataset contains data for fiscal years 1989 - 2009 and is currently available in the following formats:
Background
The SSA's administrative appeals operation, under the Office of Hearings Operations (OHO), is one of the largest administrative judicial systems in the world. Administrative law judges conduct hearings for applicants denied at initial or reconsideration levels of adjudication, and issue decisions.
In a separate dataset we provide more current data for average wait time until a hearing is held. The more recent data is provided by month and office, beginning in September 2010. Average wait time is shown in number of months. This allows individuals and their representatives to estimate the amount of time they may have to wait for a hearing to be held. You will find the most recent monthly report for Average Wait Time Until Hearing Held at Hearings and Appeals. Archived reports, previously called NETSTATS Reports, for FY 2010 onward are available at Archived Public Data Files.
The dataset found here provides historical data for average wait time (in days) from the hearing request date until a hearing was held. This dataset includes data for fiscal years (FY) 1989 - 2009 at the national level. Data prior to 1989 is not available. We offer this longitudinal data under our open data program so that members of the public, Congress, advocates, and other interested parties have access to the entire data asset we have for average wait time to a hearing being held.
Data Dictionary
Fiscal Year (FY): The 12-month period from October 1st through September 30th.
Average Processing Time in Days: The average number of days from the hearing request date to the hearing held date for completed cases where a hearing was held.