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Judges’ Stats for Elkins Park Social Security Hearings (Sept 2024)
Are you wondering if you got a good judge for your Elkins Park Social Security Hearing for Disability or SSI scheduled in the Office of Hearing Operations (OHO)? Do you want to know everything you can about the where, why and how of the hearing itself? You’re not alone, most of my clients desperately want to know every detail of their Disability Hearing so that they have the best chance of winning. You might have a hearing in Elkins Park if you have a Social Security Disability/SSI appeal and live in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Fairless Hills, Limerick, North East Philadelphia, or Reading. The Elkins Park Social Security hearing office is located on the intersection of Old York Road and Route 73 (Township Line Road). You can find the name of your judge on a hearing scheduled notice or call the number for the hearing office (at the bottom of this page). Here are all the judges’ statistics and other information that your Social Security Disability Hearing Lawyer would give you leading up to the hearing date.
Judges’ Statistics
The following table is up to date as of September 2024:
Judge | Percent Approved |
Spector, Jennifer | 46% |
Silverman, Marc | 45% |
Schwarz, Eric | 59% |
Oleyar, Mike | 38% |
Morales Price, Sandra | 53% |
McDade, Kathleen | 46% |
McAneney, Vivian | 56% |
Lucas, Brian | 40% |
Lash, Jennifer M | 54% |
Hollo, Elana | 43% |
Goods, Raina | 39% |
Gauffreau, Stuart | 60% |
Gabell, Margaret M | 41% |
Tip: Be completely honest when you’re testifying to the Judge in your hearing. If the Judge catches you in one lie, they may not believe ANY of your testimony! Be ready to explain any inconsistencies, like if you are legally blind but still drive yourself to medical appointments.
The Quality of Elkins Park Social Security Judges
The Social Security Hearing Office in Elkins Park, PA has slightly below average judges when it comes to case approval percentages. The national average for case approval rate is 54%, and you’ll notice from the above table that only one judge (Judge Gauffreau) is above average while all the other judges are average or below average. Many people still have really good experiences, because some of the judges and staff genuinely care about other people. But many have very bad experiences in Elkins Park because it still is Social Security, run by the government, which is a complete and utter mess. I believe the judges there are doing the best they can. Do they get decisions wrong sometimes? Of course, they are human. Only those with very low case approval rates would I call biased.
For example, for Elkins Park Social Security hearings, Administrative Law Judge Mike Oleyar has the lowest case approval percentage at 38%. This rate is actually not that low, and he doesn’t have very many decisions so that might not be his true approval percentage. But if you draw a judge with below 40% you will need a pretty good case to win. That usually means that if you’re under 50 you must have a very debilitating condition or being at least 50 or over with a debilitating physical condition. In both cases, you may lose if you have sedentary work experience. Click here to get more information about the rules.
Where Will My Hearing Be Held?
Most hearings will be held by phone, the judge’s clerk will call your phone and place you in a conference call. The whole hearing will be held via conference call, it’s actually very efficient. If you have a lawyer the evidence is submitted electronically before the hearing.
If you don’t have a lawyer you’ll have to bring your evidence to the hearing office or mail it in. You can request an in-person hearing, but we don’t advise it. If you do have a in-person hearing or need to submit evidence, check out the photo above from the SSA hearing office locator website. It shows that Elkins Park Social Security hearings are held at Suite 250 in 8380 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027. You’ll go through the metal detectors – don’t bring any weapons, even a pocket knife, or they won’t let you in. Then check in with the staff and wait to be called for your hearing. If you need to reach the Elkins Park Social Security hearing office, also known as the Office of Hearing Operations, call 866-964-7369.
What should I do if I need help with my hearing?
If you do not have a lawyer yet, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) presiding over your case will almost always give you a postponement to try to get a lawyer. These hearings are very difficult without a lawyer, and the ALJs rarely get the evidence they need unless a lawyer is involved. If you need a Elkins Park Social Security Disability lawyer, no matter what stage your case is in, call us or email us and we will evaluate your case for free.